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Trump has been flirting with Putin. Can Keir Starmer woo him back to the West? | Rob Picheta | It’s time for Keir Starmer to make his move.
Britain’s prime minister has spent months carefully crafting a chummy relationship with Donald Trump. He has showered the US president with flattery since even before his November election win; he has been, in Trump’s words, “very nice.”
On Thursday, Starmer could finally extract something tangible in return. His visit to Washington is the biggest foreign policy challenge yet for a leader who, at a critical time for Ukraine’s future, has emerged as a potential bridge-builder: someone who can sway Trump from his confrontational tendencies and communicate to him the anxieties of the West.
The other scenario is less rosy: Starmer might discover that he’s been building a bridge to nowhere. He and Trump are not natural political bedfellows; there is baggage in their past, and a glaring chasm in their worldviews. Starmer talks up the “special relationship” between Britain and the US at every opportunity, but that relationship is getting bumpy. They want different things.
“The stakes couldn’t be higher,” Claire Ainsley, Starmer’s former executive director of policy who now works at the US-based Progressive Policy Institute think tank, told CNN. “(The visit) is a big test for the relationships between Europe and the United States, and Europe and the United Kingdom.”
Trump’s stance on Ukraine has tipped this centuries-old transatlantic alliance into uncertainty, as it has done to so many others – including the American relationship with NATO. The president has purred at the advances of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, attacked Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, and has barely returned Europe’s calls, cutting the continent out of negotiations over the end of the conflict.
Starmer follows French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Washington on Monday, in attempting to straighten those jumbled ties, and he will set the table for Zelensky’s trip to Washington on Friday. All three want to secure a version of peace that Ukraine and Europe can stomach: one that doesn’t sell out occupied Ukrainian territory, and that America will work to maintain.
Britain and France are leading diplomatic efforts on putting together a potential European peacekeeping force, which could enter Ukraine if a ceasefire deal were agreed, but the plan hinges on an American security presence: a “backstop” likely centered on air power, based in a nearby NATO country like Poland or Romania.
On Monday, Trump told reporters that “Europe is going to make sure nothing happens” after a deal is agreed. But Starmer has insisted Europe can’t carry that burden alone, and that American support is the only way to prevent Putin from attacking again. He reiterated that point on the flight to Washington, telling journalists that American security guarantees were the only way to prevent Putin from attacking again.
More urgently, Starmer will seek to persuade Trump to include Zelensky in talks over his country’s future. That is Europe’s most fundamental demand of Trump; the continent is intensely anxious about a pro-Moscow deal being forced on Zelensky.
But he is stepping onto an uneven playing field. Starmer’s problem is obvious: This visit matters far more to him than it does to Trump. The president has little time for European powers; he has threatened to impose major tariffs, and turned his back on decades of American foreign policy, which had placed Europe’s security at the top of Washington’s own priorities.
Starmer presented Trump with a significant gift ahead of his trip, announcing on Tuesday that Britain would hike its defense spending to 2.5% by 2027, and to 3% by the middle of the next decade. That is an unexpected acceleration of his government’s goal, and represents massive expenditure. It is also desperately needed; the British military is much depleted, experts say. A massive review of Britain’s army is due to conclude soon, and nobody expects its findings to be complimentary.
“We must change our national security posture, because a generational challenge requires a generational response,” Starmer said as he unveiled the new policy. “Courage is what our own era now demands of us.” Speaking to journalists later, he admitted the obvious: that events of recent weeks have hastened the move.
Thursday’s conversations will test more broadly the twin-track approach that Europe is taking towards Trump.
One camp wants to disengage. Germany’s likely next leader Friedrich Merz said after his election win on Sunday that Europe should “achieve independence” from the US, and slammed “outrageous” American interventions in his country’s politics.
Starmer, like Macron and Italy’s leader Giorgia Meloni, is firmly in the other group; he believes that Trump, if properly convinced, can be retrieved from the clutches of Putin’s embrace.
And there are few other leaders who can do it. “We’re not going to have an election for the foreseeable future. We’ve got a stable, center-left government. Therefore we can play an integral part in these conversations, in a way that other leaders may find difficult,” Ainsley, the former policy chief, said.
But there may be awkward questions for Starmer to answer when he and Trump face the media. Several members of his center-left government have historically condemned Trump. When he was an opposition MP, Starmer himself said Trump’s endorsement of Boris Johnson showed that Johnson “isn’t fit to be prime minister.”
Last October, then-candidate Trump returned fire, accusing Starmer’s Labour Party of election interference after it emerged that dozens of activists had campaigned for Kamala Harris.
Since then, Starmer has kept a tight lid on any criticism of the president from within his ranks. But privately, Trump’s recent interventions on Gaza and Ukraine have appalled most within Labour.
“Diplomacy by Twitter isn’t the usual approach to managing complex geopolitical issues,” one MP told CNN. “It raises questions about European defence going forward under this presidency, (since) misinformation can be so widely believed.”
Starmer has several obstacles to clear at the White House, and they go beyond Ukraine. The visit is more broadly a challenge of his people-pleasing approach to global affairs.
The prime minister wants to keep everyone happy. He has been loath to criticize Trump, has warmed up Britain’s post-Brexit partnership with the European Union, avowedly backed Kyiv and thawed ties with China. At a time of geopolitical upheaval, he is attempting to squeeze Britain into an impossibly tight Venn diagram.
A case in point: Starmer’s intensely controversial plan to hand the Chagos Islands, Britain’s last African colony, to Mauritius, ending a years-long legal and ethical quandary.
Downing Street says the deal will secure the future of Diego Garcia, a US-UK military base on one of the islands, for 99 years. But Starmer needs Trump’s approval to finish the paperwork, and Westminster does not expect the self-stylized dealmaker-in-chief to be impressed by the terms: London is expected to pay billions of pounds to close the deal, and Mauritius is heavily reliant on imports from China, which has raised national security concerns on both sides of the Atlantic.
The deal is “insane,” according to a former Conservative minister, Grant Shapps, who as UK defense secretary halted the negotiations that Labour later revived.
“(China) will use territory to expand their influence. They will spy,” Shapps told CNN. “A lot of sensitive stuff goes on at British military bases. So you don’t want to be surrounded by potential adversaries.”
Mauritius has pushed for control of the islands for decades, and bodies including the International Court of Justice have backed its claims. But Shapps said: “You sometimes, as Trump is proving to the world, just have to say ‘no.’ You have to think about your own national interest.”
Another former Conservative defense secretary, Penny Mordaunt, also criticized the deal, which has been championed by current Foreign Secretary David Lammy. “The suspicion is that (Lammy’s) desire to atone for Britain’s colonial past has seen him enable China’s colonial present,” Mordaunt told CNN.
There are notable pockets of opposition from within Starmer’s camp, too. “The only thing that matters is what’s best for our national security. I am keeping an open mind, but I’m yet to be convinced this deal is that,” a Labour MP told CNN. “I’d have no problem if it were kicked into long grass because the US took considerable time to review the deal.”
Ukraine, Chagos, China and a colorful history of remarks about Trump are all awkward conversation topics that must be broached on Thursday. Starmer will do so delicately; unlike Macron, he is unlikely to fact-check Trump in front of the cameras. But he has run out of room for flattery; there is little time left to start some difficult discussions.
Starmer did not necessarily choose to be a statesman. His foremost stated objective is to grow Britain’s economy; he doesn’t want enemies, he wants investment and trade. But the world has had other ideas, and willingly or not, Starmer has found himself a key cog in a global structure on the verge of collapse.
On Monday, Starmer admitted Trump has “changed the global conversation” on Ukraine. Now it is Britain’s opportunity to do the talking. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/uk/starmer-trump-meeting-preview-ukraine-gbr-intl/index.html | 2025-02-26 | c89ece93-2bd1-5247-a9ea-d8a8d7fd7f0d |
Seven babies die of hypothermia in Gaza, health officials say | Kareem Khadder, Tareq El Hilou, Pauline Lockwood, Sana Noor Haq | Seven babies have died from hypothermia in Gaza since Sunday, according to health care officials in the strip, who warn there will be more such deaths unless more aid enters the enclave.
Dr. Saeed Salah, the medical director of the Patient’s Friends Benevolent Society Hospital (PFBS), northern Gaza, warned of a “disaster” in the rising number of babies suffering from hypothermia, as they try to survive winter conditions in the strip.
In the past two weeks, eight babies with hypothermia were admitted to the medical facility in Gaza City, said Dr. Salah. Of those, three were admitted to the intensive care unit and three others died “within hours” of arrival.
On Tuesday, a fourth baby who was just 69 days old died overnight, Dr. Salah added. Further south, two other babies with hypothermia symptoms died in Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis, health workers there told journalists.
Then on Wednesday, the death toll rose to seven after Seela Abdel Qader, who was less than two months old, died, according to Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, the director general of Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
“Cold waves are causing more victims every day, especially among newborns, due to the (Israeli) occupation’s destruction of their health facilities, as well as the destruction of medical equipment and devices for newborns,” Dr. Al-Bursh said in a statement published by the health ministry Wednesday.
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Dr. Salah said more caravans, tents and fuel were needed to “bring warmth to the people.” He added that such provisions would stop this kind of “catastrophe from repeating itself” and “prevent the death of neonatal babies from hypothermia and frostbite.”
A fragile ceasefire has offered a moment of reprieve for people in Gaza from Israel’s months-long military campaign that it launched in response to the October 7 Hamas terror attacks that killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and saw more than 250 taken hostage.
At least 48,348 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and another 111,761 people injured, the Ministry of Health there reported on Tuesday.
Survivors say they are struggling to rebuild communities and reconcile the destruction wrought – which gutted the medical system, and spawned a crisis of starvation, displacement and disease. Just 20 out of 35 hospitals are partially functional, according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of preventing the entry of humanitarian aid into the strip in violation of the ceasefire agreement – accusations that Israel has denied.
On February 14, COGAT said that 4,200 humanitarian aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip that week, carrying food, fuel, medical supplies, tents and shelter equipment, in compliance with the ceasefire and hostage deal. Since the start of the ceasefire on January 19, 16,800 trucks of aid had entered Gaza, COGAT added.
In Nasser Hospital, a Palestinian mother gently stroked her tiny, pale baby, who was swaddled in blankets. Two-month-old Yousaf Al-Najjar is one of many neonatal patients being treated for hypothermia there.
CNN footage from the hospital on Tuesday showed the mother trying to check the temperature of her baby boy, who she said has become like “a skeleton.” The family is displaced inside a tent nearby, with at least 15 other relatives.
“I put my lips on his face and feet, and they have become frozen,” she told CNN. “Children are being brought in dead from the cold weather.
“We don’t have covers or anything,” she added. “I see death in my son.”
Baby Yousaf was born prematurely, according to Dr. Fida’a Al-Nadi, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital. His weight of two kilograms has made him more vulnerable to hypothermia, Dr Al-Nadi told CNN.
“Every day we are dealing with children (suffering) hypothermia, many of them die,” she said on Tuesday. “The problem is not the hospital; it’s the conditions where the children are living, either in tents or destroyed homes.”
Israel’s war in Gaza has pushed many Palestinians into tent camps. At least 1.9 million people have been displaced, according to the UN. Many have sought refuge in sprawling outdoor areas, living for months in makeshift tents made of cloth and nylon – with little access to warmth, electricity or heating. In cold weather conditions, newborns and children up to three months are among those most at risk of respiratory infections, lack of blood supply, and infections, Dr Al-Bursh said last week.
Fikr Shalltoot, the Gaza director for the UK-based NGO, Medical Aid for Palestinians, said the deaths of those six Palestinian babies “is the direct result of Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid.”
“Newborns should not be dying of hypothermia in Gaza. This is not a tragedy of nature but a man-made crisis,” Shalltoot said on Tuesday, in a statement shared with CNN. “If adequate aid, including shelter supplies, were allowed to reach civilians and hospitals, these deaths would be entirely preventable.” | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/middleeast/israel-gaza-six-palestinian-babies-die-hypothermia-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 79d12c80-b5dd-56f0-9019-3a92926a5d48 |
Coffins said to contain hostages’ bodies arrive in Israel and Palestinian prisoners freed as Gaza truce nears expiry | Jeremy Diamond, Hira Humayun, Laura Izso, Helen Regan | Four coffins said to contain the remains of Israeli hostages have been received by Israel, as Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in an overnight exchange as part of the fragile ceasefire deal.
The exchange marks the start of the final swap in the 42-day truce between Israel and Hamas, which is set to expire this weekend unless an agreement is struck to extend it.
Hamas on Thursday signaled its readiness to begin talks on the second phase of the deal after the Palestinian militant group said it would hand over the bodies of Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi and Shlomo Mantzur to Israel. All four were taken captive in the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed their deaths and said it shared in the “heavy grief” of their loved ones.
The latest transfer was held in private after the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said an agreement had been reached for the bodies to be returned “in an agreed-upon procedure and without Hamas ceremonies.”
Israel is expected to release a total of 642 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, according to Palestinian Prisoners Media Office. Among them are detainees, including women and children, who have been held without charge, prisoners who were serving life sentences and long sentences, as well as the longest-serving Palestinian political prisoner.
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The handover had been in doubt since Saturday, when Israel failed to release 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in protest at what it said were “humiliating ceremonies” conducted by Hamas during previous hostage releases.
In the early hours of Thursday, the Red Cross said it handed over the four coffins to the Israeli military at the Kerem Shalom crossing through Egyptian mediators, and the process of identifying the bodies was being carried out in Israeli territory.
Red Cross buses carrying hundreds of Palestinians detained by Israel arrived in Gaza early Thursday. Wearing light gray uniforms, the Palestinians could be seen disembarking the buses outside of the European Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis to be reunited with their families. Crowds of journalists and residents watched as what sounded like celebratory gunfire could be heard in the background.
Ninety-seven released Palestinian prisoners also arrived in Egypt where they will be exiled in Cairo, Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi confirmed to CNN.
After crossing into southern Israel, the four coffins containing the bodies of Israeli hostages were transported to the National Center for Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv for identification, police said early Thursday.
Images released by police showed a convoy of emergency vehicles traveling down a dark highway as a crowd of people waved Israeli flags.
The Israeli military has previously said that Mantzur, who at 85 was the oldest hostage taken on October 7, 2023, was killed during the Hamas-led attack and his body was held in Gaza.
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Mantzur was described by his Kibbutz Kissufim as “the heart of our community – everyone’s grandfather.” In a statement earlier this month, Mantzur’s family mourned his death and called him “a man with a heart of gold, golden hands, and a smile worth gold.”
Yahalomi, a dual French-Israeli citizen, was shot by militants as he tried to protect his wife and three children, who were taken by gunmen during the Hamas-led attack. His wife Bat-Sheva and their two daughters eventually escaped, while their son Eitan, was taken hostage and released in November 2023, as part of a temporary ceasefire.
“We are heartbroken and still struggling to believe,” his family said in a statement.
Elgarat, who was kidnapped at the age of 68, “came to Nir Oz following his brother and was a beloved figure in the community,” the kibbutz wrote in a statement, calling him “an integral part of the social landscape” of the community.
Idan’s family said in a statement Thursday that “the uncertainty and relentless turmoil have come to an end.” Through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the family had previously said it had “received several signs of life” since Idan was kidnapped and had expected him to be released as part of the first ceasefire and hostage deal. “Tsachi will be laid to rest next to the grave of his beloved daughter, Maayan, who was murdered on October 7, while trying to assist her father and protect the bomb shelter door,” the family said.
If the four bodies are formally identified as belonging to the hostages, Hamas and its allies now hold 59 captives according to Israeli figures. Of those, more than half are thought to be dead by the Israeli government. One, Hadar Goldin, has been held, dead, since before October 7, 2023.
The first phase of the deal has been marked by accusations of violations from both sides, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces growing pressure from far-right members of his cabinet to return to war. Hamas on Thursday warned that any attempts by Israel “to backtrack on the agreement” will “only lead to more suffering” for the remaining hostages and their families.
In Gaza, CNN footage from the European Hospital in Khan Younis showed three prisoners arrive in ambulances to the intensive care unit, where they were greeted by loved ones.
One prisoner, who was embraced by his son, was provided with oxygen, while another appeared very weak.
Others who disembarked from Red Cross buses also appeared weak and thin, with some having difficulty walking.
One freed man was welcomed by his wife and children, who cried as they hugged him tightly. “I was so afraid. Every day I prayed that they were doing well,” he said.
An elderly man could be seen hugging his brother tightly. “Take me home, I beg you. Take me home. I want to see my children,” he said.
In Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, scenes of jubilation greeted a group of Palestinian prisoners who were seen disembarking from a Red Cross vehicle in the early hours of Thursday.
The Palestinian Prisoners Media Office said earlier that 43 prisoners were expected to be released into the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Footage shows emotional reunions, including a daughter hugging and kissing her released father, and a man tightly holding his child.
“We have been out taken out of suffering as if we have been dug out from our own graves. No prisoner has had the experience of having their own release delayed twice,” released prisoner Yaha Shrida told Reuters.
Among the 642 Palestinian prisoners and detainees expected to be released, just under 500 are expected to be sent back to Gaza, including 445 who have been detained in the enclave since the war began in October 2023 and have been held without charge, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society.
The detainees include 44 children and two women.
Advocates for Palestinians prisoners and detainees have expressed repeated concerns about the delay in their release, and Israel’s treatment of those held in detention. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society says 69 Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli detention since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, of whom 38 were detained in Gaza.
The group released in Ramallah and East Jerusalem early Thursday are among 151 prisoners who were serving life sentences and long sentences, according to Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office. Ninety-seven of them will be sent into exile while the remaining 11 are from Gaza, where they will be sent back, and were detained prior to October 7, 2023.
Among the Palestinians due for release is Nael Barghouti, the longest-serving Palestinian political prisoner. Nael has been in and out of prison since he was first arrested in 1978 and accused of engaging in attacks against the Israeli military.
He was released in a 2011 Israel-Hamas deal, which saw 1,100 Palestinians exchanged for one Israeli soldier held by Hamas for five years, Gilad Shalit. Nael was re-arrested by Israeli forces in 2014 for “Hamas membership,” according to Israeli media, and has since been serving a life sentence.
Also among them is Bilal Abu Ghanem, who is serving concurrent life sentences for the murder of three Israelis on a Jerusalem bus in 2015.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNN’s Ibrahim Dahman, Dana Karni and Lucas Lilieholm, and journalist Abdallah Al Attar contributed reporting. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/middleeast/hamas-israeli-hostage-release-wednesday-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 817cc19f-f884-59f9-aecd-09970b49a098 |
Satellite images show how hundreds of North Korean troops were likely transported to a secluded Russian port | Lauren Kent | Hundreds of North Korean troops were likely transported by sea to Russia to fight in its war against Ukraine, satellite images have revealed, according to a new analysis from a US-based think tank shared exclusively with CNN.
At least two Russian naval ships are believed to have moved North Korean soldiers to a Russian military port in Dunai, in the far east, in October and November, according to researchers at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, in California.
The ship transfers were first identified by the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS), which said in a press release last year that some soldiers were transported via the North Korean port areas of Chongjin, Hamhung and Musudan. But the South Korean agency only offered a grainy radar image at the time.
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“I don’t think that the Russians or the North Koreans want these transfers caught on camera,” Sam Lair, a research associate at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, told CNN. “The secrecy element is quite remarkable.”
Now, researchers have verified that during the same time period of the troop transfers reported by South Korea intelligence, the Russian vessels identified by the spy agency docked at Dunai port in a remote, eastern part of Russia.
In North Korea, soldiers likely boarded these ships at night, making it difficult to capture evidence of the transfers, researchers said. But satellite images have revealed activities at Dunai, “where it appears the Russians have been less careful.”
For example, in one satellite image from Planet Labs, a crane can be seen extending to one of Russia’s naval landing ships, which researchers believe is the Nikolay Vilkov, at the port on October 17, and a covered cargo truck is on the dock next to it. By October 20, the crane is retracted, and it appears a transfer of soldiers is complete.
Researchers could identify the Russian “Ropucha-class” and “Alligator-class” ships in the satellite images because they match with photos captured by the Japanese Defense Ministry in March 2022, when the vessels passed through Japanese waters.
Each landing ship is believed to have capacity to hold several hundred soldiers, possibly as many as 400, according to the researchers.
Lair explained that Dunai is a secure military facility, making it much more conducive to under-the-radar transfers than the large, nearby port of Vladivostok, which is in an area where civilians live.
“This is an isolated place where they can do these exchanges, where people aren’t going to notice… (where) their own citizens, and folks in the intelligence community might not notice,” Lair said.
An estimated 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia, according to Ukrainian officials and Western intelligence reports in January, which say around 4,000 of those troops have been killed or injured. Kyiv says it has captured at least two North Korean soldiers. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang have confirmed the existence of North Korean troops on the front lines.
CNN has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment.
North Korean troops have been deployed to Kursk since late October to repel Ukraine’s incursion in the southern Russian border region.
“The Russians seem to have been very careful to limit the exposure of the North Korean soldiers, moving them directly to military training facilities. The motive behind all the secrecy surrounding the North Koreans is uncertain, but moving some of them through Dunai would aid in that effort,” Lair wrote in his analysis.
Dunai port has previously been used to transport cargo between Russia and the North Korea since Pyongyang started aiding the invasion of Ukraine in 2023, according to the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.
Satellite images taken in October show a cargo ship being loaded at Rajin port in North Korea, and the same ship docked two days later at Dunai in Russia.
An October 2023 report from the UK-based think tank The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI) said that “Russia has likely begun shipping North Korean munitions at scale” to the “inconspicuous naval facility” tucked away in Dunai.
“We spend a lot of time looking at North Korea in general, because of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, their conventional weapons program, their missile programs… So, we’ve been monitoring the North Korea-Russia connection since it started, in part because we think that that relationship might be going both ways,” Lair said.
Alyona Getmanchuk, director of the New Europe Center think tank in Kyiv, told a forum in South Korea this week that North Korea is gaining valuable combat experience with its involvement in Ukraine.
“It’s not only about supplies of missiles, it’s about testing their missiles in real battlefield conditions,” Getmanchuk said during the forum at the Goethe Institute in Seoul.
She said North Korea has used that experience to upgrade missiles to make them more accurate.
Pyongyang’s ground troops are also getting better, Getmanchuk said.
“They came totally unprepared… Now they are learning very quickly,” adapting to their tactics to be effective in “modern, hi-tech warfare,” she added.
Lair said the Pyongyang-Moscow relationship has deepened since the invasion began. “Sending your own soldiers to fight in someone else’s conflict really suggests the strength of the connection,” he said.
There are indications that Russia and North Korea are no longer using the sea route to transport troops, according to the think tank. Meanwhile, South Korean intelligence has reported that Russian military planes are frequently flying between Vladivostok and Pyongyang.
CNN’s Brad Lendon contributed to this report. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/asia/ukraine-war-north-korean-troops-russian-ships-hnk-intl/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 8598d3d4-7c81-578f-a953-beea44255507 |
Mexico prepares to appear before US Supreme Court in suit against gun manufacturers | Belen Zapata, Max Saltman | The legal team representing Mexico in a lawsuit against eight firearms manufacturers in the United States is preparing to argue part of their case before the US Supreme Court on March 4, according to Pablo Arrocha, legal consultant for the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“This case is going through a stage where questions of admissibility will still be reviewed, not of substance,” Arrocha clarified on Tuesday at the International Forum on Arms Trafficking and Diversion in Latin America organized by the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE).
The Mexican government sued several US arms manufacturers in 2021, accusing them of providing weapons that ultimately reach drug cartels operating in the country and demanding compensation for economic and social damages resulting from armed violence.
Mexico, which has only one gun store, has claimed in the past that between 70% and 90% of all guns recovered from Mexican crime scenes come from the US. A 2024 report from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms found that 72% of international gun trafficking cases originating in the US featured Mexico as the target country.
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In October 2024, the US Supreme Court granted a request by Smith & Wesson and other companies to review a federal appeals court ruling that revived the case after a lower court judge dismissed it, citing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. This is a law that generally bars civil liability for firearms manufacturers and distributors for the use of their products by criminal third parties.
In court filings, the manufacturers have challenged Mexico’s allegations that they were aiding and abetting the illegal sale of their weapons in violation of US federal law. They have pointed to the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling that shielded Twitter from a lawsuit alleging it aided and abetted terrorism by hosting tweets from the terrorist group ISIS.
“In its zeal to attack the firearms industry, Mexico seeks to raze bedrock principles of American law that safeguard the whole economy,” the manufacturers wrote in a November 2024 brief.
A second lawsuit, filed by Mexico in October 2022 in an Arizona court against five stores that sell guns, is in the evidence-gathering stage, according to Arrocha. Mexico accuses them of negligence, public nuisance and unjust enrichment.
According to the ATF, the Arizona to Mexico gun trafficking pipeline is second only to the illicit firearms trade between Texas and Mexico.
The legal advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that both lawsuits are moving forward and that there are scenarios for any type of outcome.
“This is the beginning, and this is the tip of the spear of something that can allow for much broader litigation strategies in the future,” he said at the forum.
The case comes to the Supreme Court at a moment of diplomatic tension between Mexico and the US. Last week, the US officially designated six Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups, an act that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum characterized as potentially endangering Mexican sovereignty.
At the same press conference, Sheinbaum declared that she would seek reforms to prosecute “any national or foreigner involved in the illicit manufacture, distribution, disposal, transfer and internment of weapons into [Mexico’s] national territory.” | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/americas/mexico-supreme-court-gun-lawsuit-latam-intl/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 44033b82-22a6-56a7-9058-a7892729f7ad |
China sees opportunity in a world turned upside down by Trump | Simone McCarthy | Editor’s Note: Sign up for CNN’s Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the country’s rise and how it impacts the world.
President Donald Trump’s upending of US foreign policy has alarmed allies and nations in need. His administration has decimated foreign aid, threatened to take control of other countries’ sovereign territory, exited key international bodies and alienated Europe with an embrace of Russia.
But the head-spinning set of moves, that together signal a retreat from leadership of a liberal order to “America First,” is playing right into the messaging of the US’ biggest rival.
In this time of “transformation and turbulence,” China has a vision for a “safer world,” its top diplomat Wang Yi told G20 counterparts last week as he reiterated Beijing’s pitch for “a new path to security” without alliances, “zero-sum” competition and “bloc confrontation.”
That vision – coded language for reshaping a world order China sees as unfairly dominated by the West – has been a cornerstone of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s push to step up as an alternative global leader to the US.
And the drive has the potential to take on new relevance, observers say, as Beijing eyes the opportunities to advance its influence in the wake of Trump’s US foreign policy upset.
Trump’s shake-up was obvious even in the room of foreign ministers from the world’s largest economies where Wang, China’s most seasoned diplomat, spoke in South Africa last week.
The absence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meant no high-ranking US diplomat was there to present an American counterpoint to a gathering of countries that make up 80% of the global population and three-quarters of international trade.
On the surface, this shift has the potential to accelerate China’s ascent as a global power, potentially granting the world’s second-largest economy space to win more allies, boost its global leadership and shift global norms and rules – such as those on human rights or security – in its favor.
But countries from Europe to Asia are well aware of the wide gap between Beijing’s benign rhetoric and its behavior as it flouts a major international ruling to harass Philippine vessels in the South China Sea or intimidates Taiwan – the self-ruling democracy Bejing claims.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has signaled it wants to shift attention from other global conflicts to focus on its rivalry with China. And Beijing will face that and potential fresh US tariffs on its goods as it tries to revive a weak economy – limiting how much it can pour into expanding global influence.
But even still, there are signs that China may see potential for those headwinds to just be some turbulence in a rise made easier by Trump’s policies.
“Trump 2.0 era will undoubtedly weaken the US’ leadership in international affairs,” an analysis published this month on the website of Shanghai-based think tank Fudan Development Institute said.
“As other countries, particularly the European Union and China, actively respond, the power vacuum left by the US withdrawal may be filled by them … With the US no longer able to dominate global issues as it once did, a new global governance structure may emerge,” it said.
China has been closely watching Trump’s dismantling of the US foreign aid sector.
The US administration said it has terminated more 90% of the US Agency for International Development (USAID)’s foreign assistance awards, a move disclosed in a court filing Wednesday, weeks after Trump officials implemented a sweeping freeze on most foreign assistance, stalling programs supporting education, health and development.
As the changes rolled out in recent weeks, some English-language arms of Chinese state media released scathing critiques of such aid.
Foreign aid is “viewed by the US as a tool to maintain its hegemonic position and engage in geopolitical maneuvering,” nationalist tabloid the Global Times said in an article on USAID, an agency Beijing has long seen as a thorn in its side, accusing of sparking democratic “color revolutions” and indoctrinating US proxies across the world. USAID, which was founded during the Cold War, has long played a key role in advancing American soft power and democratic ideals.
There has been some indication China will take targeted steps to ramp up its support in regions it sees as strategically important in the wake of the US freeze – a move that would align with what experts have seen as a soft-power struggle between the two countries in recent decades.
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In Cambodia, for example, Beijing released $4.4 million for demining operations, as US-backed landmine removal programs were halted in eight provinces, the Associated Press reported, citing the Cambodian Mine Action Center.
Overall, however, experts say there’s little chance that Beijing would be able or willing to step up to fill the US aid void.
China is a huge player in global development, funneling more than a trillion dollars into overseas projects between 2000 and 2021. But unlike the US, data show the vast majority of Beijing’s development spending is not direct aid, but loans and other financing.
And economic belt-tightening has seen Beijing move away from big-ticket commitments, like building railroads and power plants under Xi’s signature Belt and Road overseas infrastructure drive, paring back to more modest projects in recent years.
“Trump is giving China some opportunity – but China might not be able to pick up this US gift,” said Shanghai-based foreign affairs analyst Shen Dingli. “Due to our gloomy economy and the (downsized) version of Belt and Road … we have less money to buy loyalty.”
Even still, China may look to capitalize on countries’ uncertainty about the US to expand its trade and security ties, as well as access to critical minerals, observers say. And countries may take uncertainty in US relations – from the aid freeze to Trump’s tariff threats – into calculations for dealing with the world’s two largest economies.
“Beijing can send the message to the rest of the world … that the US is fundamentally going to be unreliable,” said Manoj Kewalramani, who heads Indo-Pacific studies at the Takshashila Institution research center in the Indian city of Bengaluru. “Why would you want to pick a fight with Beijing now?”
In an interview with news outlet Breitbart published this week, Rubio suggested that as the US looks to push back on China’s global influence there would be “more big deals” like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, but did not provide further specifics. Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month said they would further develop the Biden-era trade and transit project.
Meanwhile, there are already signs of concern from some parts about Beijing’s potential gains from a Trump-era pullback of US assistance.
In an open letter to Trump posted on social platform X, Nepalese lawmaker Rajendra Bajgain last week warned that a “vacuum created by reduced American involvement will inevitably be filled by other powers that do not share the values of democracy and free enterprise.”
Two major US-funded infrastructure projects as well as other initiatives in Nepal have been put on hold following the US aid freeze, Reuters reported.
In a response to a request for comment from CNN, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the US “adjustments” were America’s internal affairs, and that Beijing has “consistently” provided assistance “to the best of its ability.”
China’s aid “aligns with the needs of recipient countries for socio-economic development and the improvement of people’s livelihoods,” it said.
But even as some of Trump’s moves so far have created potential openings for Beijing, there’s also the hanging question of how his administration may ultimately calibrate its aid and foreign policy – and its rivalry with China.
When asked this month if the foreign aid shake-up was giving China and Russia an opportunity to expand their influence, national security adviser Mike Waltz told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “all too often these missions and these programs, number one, are not in line with strategic US interests like pushing back on China.”
And speaking to European counterparts earlier this month, US defense chief Pete Hegseth warned that the US could no longer be “primarily focused on the security of Europe.” Instead, the US is “prioritizing deterring war with China in the Pacific,” he said.
There have also been signs of Trump’s brash diplomacy working against Beijing’s benefit.
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Panama, the first country in Latin America to sign onto China’s Belt and Road Initiative, announced it would pull out of the scheme after Trump repeatedly threatened to “take back” the Panama Canal, falsely claiming Panama had ceded its operations to China.
And in Europe, even as Trump officials lambasted European and NATO counterparts earlier this month and warmed to Russia, US allies there appeared galvanized, rather than dissuaded, to bolster NATO with more spending. That pivot will also mean Beijing is watching closely whether Washington is able to peel away its close ally Moscow, as the White House has signaled it may hope to do.
Even still, Beijing will likely see the time as right to put more focus on repairing strained relations with Europe – a potential opening that could widen if Trump slaps tariffs on European goods.
Trump has also so far not shaken US alliances in Asia, as Beijing may have hoped. And it’s not clear that “America First” will leave a security void in Asia or weaken the US alliance system there.
The US president held seemingly successful meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Indian counterpart Narendra Modi this month, and signaled support for the Pacific-focused AUKUS alliance of Canberra, London and Washington.
And uncertainty or future demands from Trump could also strengthen arsenals and partnerships in the region. On Monday, US allies the Philippines and Japan agreed to further deepen their defense collaborations.
Beijing, so far, has been seen as continuing to probe the limits of its own military muscle-flexing in the region, in recent days conducting what New Zealand said were unprecedented live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea.
On Wednesday, Taiwan accused China of setting up a zone for “live-fire training” without advance notice a day after the island’s coast guard detained a Chinese-crewed cargo ship suspected of cutting an undersea cable in the Taiwan Strait.
But Beijing will be carefully watching how Trump’s policies and his allies’ response to them weigh on its core ambitions to defend its territorial claims in the South China Sea – and take control of the self-ruling democracy of Taiwan.
“As long as the war in Europe would be put to an end, China’s freedom of action in our part of the world might be more seriously checked and balanced,” said Shen in Shanghai.
“China must be watching, calculating how it should adjust its new approach to this fast-moving situation,” he said. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/china/china-opportunity-trump-foreign-policy-intl-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 40a77a00-d311-5ea1-90f8-ddac5294339a |
Brother of freed Israeli hostage says Hamas captors ate full meals and laughed as he was starved | Jeremy Diamond, Christian Edwards | Held hostage in a tunnel under Gaza for nearly 500 days, Or Levy – starved of sunlight, unable to stand up straight, not knowing whether his wife was dead or alive – would often watch, hungry, as his Hamas captors ate the food he was denied.
“He was starved. All of them (hostages) were starved. They barely ate, they barely drank,” Michael Levy, Or’s brother, told CNN in an interview.
The captors ate “chicken, meat – they had everything,” while his brother and the others he was held alongside “were getting nothing,” Michael said. The Hamas fighters “even laughed when they saw them looking” at their meals, he added.
After emerging from the tunnels as part of a ceasefire deal earlier this month, Israelis were shocked by the skeletal state of Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami and Eli Sharabi. Gaunt and haggard, the appearance of the recently released detainees, as well as their testimonies, have raised fears about the wellbeing of those remaining in Gaza, as the first phase of the ceasefire nears its end and the next remains uncertain.
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Or, 33 on the day of his capture, was dancing with his wife, Einav, at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen poured over the border into southern Israel. Einav was killed in the rampage – something Or had long suspected, but did not know for sure until his release 16 months later.
Over that time, Israel has laid waste to Gaza, in an offensive it said was aimed to free the remaining hostages and render Hamas incapable of governing the enclave or posing a military threat. Israel has been criticized by rights groups of stemming the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, leaving Palestinian children to die of starvation. United Nations experts also warned of famine in the strip, before the ceasefire deal helped get some aid to the 2.1 million people living there.
Asked whether his brother may have been denied food because of shortages in Gaza, Michael said this did not explain why the Hamas captors ate well.
“They were intentionally starved. It’s as simple as that. The terrorists next to them ate all the time,” he said, relating what his brother had told him about his time in the tunnels. Hamas laughed when the unfed hostages looked at their full meals.
Michael said the water his brother was given was rarely clean enough to drink, the tunnel was not tall enough for him to stand up in, and there was no natural light. “Those are the most horrific conditions that you can imagine,” he said.
In a statement to CNN, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the group “dealt with the prisoners in accordance with international law” and had “provided them with food at a time when there was a famine in the Strip.”
The spokesman said Or Levy’s was “a special case due to special security circumstances, and we must look at the rest of the cases that were in excellent health despite the circumstances.”
Also starved of news from the outside world, Or only learned of Einav’s death after he was released. “He did not know. He assumed, and asked, and we told him,” Levy’s mother, Geula, told Israeli media.
While the couple were at the Nova festival, Einav’s parents were caring for their son, Almog, who was two years old at the time. Michael said they wanted to reintroduce Almog to his father slowly – first a phone call, then a video one, before meeting face-to-face.
“We were worried that he might be scared, or he won’t recognize him or something like this – but it was like they were never apart,” Michael said.
Almog asked his dad what had taken him so long to come back. Or “just hugged him, he couldn’t really respond to it. I mean, how can you respond to it?”
Or Levy’s ordeal was entwined with that of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American who became one of the most recognizable hostages held by Hamas. The two men hid with nearly 30 others in a bomb shelter on October 7, before Hamas gunmen began to lob grenades inside.
Goldberg-Polin, then 23, threw out the grenades one by one, before one detonated in his hand, blowing his arm off from the elbow down. Along with Levy and others, he was marched into a pickup truck and driven to Gaza.
Despite a high-profile campaign by his parents to free the hostages, Goldberg-Polin was murdered in August by his captors in Gaza, according to the Israreli military, which found his body shortly after he had been shot dead.
Michael Levy said his brother had a “meaningful” conversation with Rachel and Jon Goldberg-Polin, Hersh’s parents. “He wanted to tell them a few things that they probably didn’t know about their son,” he said, without going into detail.
The Goldberg-Polins launched a fresh appeal to US President Donald Trump’s administration to hasten efforts to free the remaining hostages, saying they were spurred to do so after seeing the condition of Or Levy and the two others released with him.
Each weekend of hostage releases has become a grim propaganda exercise, with the freed Israelis paraded on stage and some presented with certificates and Hamas-branded gift bags.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which is responsible for receiving the hostages from Hamas and handing them over to the Israeli military, has said it is “increasingly concerned about the conditions surrounding release operations” and urged all parties to “ensure that future releases are dignified and private.”
The stage-managed releases have also been used to inflict further distress on some hostages themselves, as well as wider Israeli society. On Saturday, Hamas released a heavily edited propaganda video showing two unreleased hostages, Eviatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, watching the release of fellow Israelis from a vehicle – before being taken back into hiding.
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David and Gilboa-Dalal, friends since they were infants, were also captured at the Nova festival.
In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, a brother of each of the hostages decried the “mental torture” Hamas was subjecting them to.
“They look sick, terrified, pale, almost yellow. They were begging for us to save them,” said Ilay David, Eviatar’s brother, after watching the Hamas video.
Gal Gilboa-Dalal, Guy’s brother, said for Hamas to show the hostages daylight for potentially the first time in 15 months, “to make them see what freedom might look like for them, and then close the door and drag them back to hell – it’s awful.”
A recently freed female hostage said she was overwhelmed by the number of people who had gathered in Gaza to watch her release.
“I knew there would be plenty of people, but I didn’t expect that amount,” Agam Berger, an Israeli soldier, told Israel’s Kan Radio in her first interview since she was released.
Whilst in captivity, Berger said she was fed two meals a day, mostly made of rice, and that she would occasionally be allowed to watch the news, including Al Jazeera, and listen to Kan Radio, Israel’s public broadcaster.
“We also had food and conditions that, for the most part, were okay – considering what it could have been,” she said. “In that moment, you think, what is there not to be grateful for? But when you really think about it, these weren’t human conditions.”
Over the rounds of hostage releases, male captives have generally appeared more emaciated than the women, suggesting the men were worse fed.
Berger said that, on the day of her release, Hamas fighters “literally dressed me themselves to make sure I didn’t take anything at all,” making her leave behind sketchbooks she had filled with drawings, letters for her family and a prayer book.
She added that she was made to wear a hijab on the way to the handover venue, and that the militants forced her “to record videos in the car, saying ‘thank you’ and all that nonsense.”
CNN’s Eugenia Yosef, Nadeen Ebrahim and Ibrahim Dahman contributed reporting. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/europe/or-levy-israel-hostage-hamas-gaza-starve-intl/index.html | 2025-02-26 | dadee34b-886a-59df-a77b-a438159ee5dd |
Dem Sen. Duckworth reacts to job cuts at Veterans Affairs | Camila Moreno-Lizarazo | Sen. Tammy Duckworth joins The Lead
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/world/video/the-lead-donald-trump-veterans-doge-zelensky-ukraine-minerals-jake-tapper | 2025-02-26 | f5a9b014-d63e-5221-995b-d9fc201f0600 |
Pope Francis’ ‘complex’ health crisis triggers wave of prayer and uncertainty across Rome | Unknown | Simona Pettinato is among those who have gathered near the Gemelli Hospital to show their support for Pope Francis. “Prayer moves mountains,” she declared outside the hospital, where Francis has been since February 14 and is being treated for pneumonia. “It helps everyone, and we must have great faith.”
People in Rome and the Vatican are relying on their faith as they cope with the daily anxiety waiting to hear about the pope’s health. Francis’ condition is frequently described by the Vatican as “complex” and the prognosis as “reserved,” meaning that it’s too soon to tell. And while there have been some signs of “slight improvement,” his condition - until Tuesday at least - is still being described as “critical.”
This is Francis’ fourth, and now longest, hospital stay since he became pope in 2013. Everyone in the church’s central administration remains on high alert waiting for news – day and night – of the ailing pontiff.
Reporters and Vatican officials nervously refresh their inboxes awaiting the twice-daily health updates. The first - a quick, succinct update sent early in the morning - outlines how the pope’s night went. Sometimes it provides details on whether he had breakfast. Then, in the evening, a more detailed medical statement is released.
Journalists gather in anticipation of the morning and evening updates in the Holy See press office, just off St. Peter’s Square, or at the Gemelli Hospital, a 25-minute drive from the Vatican.
Doctors treating the pope – Dr. Luigi Carbone of the Vatican health and hygiene service and Sergio Alfieri, a surgeon who has previously operated on the pope – have provided a media briefing on Francis’ condition. Sometimes the updates spark alarm, other times they are more reassuring. But the overriding feeling is uncertainty.
Up at the hospital, the pope is on the 10th floor in a special suite of rooms, including a chapel. He continues to carry out some “work activities,” assisted by his two personal secretaries, and makes phone calls to the Catholic parish in Gaza.
On the hospital piazza below stands a large statue of John Paul II, the first papal Gemelli patient who made numerous visits. It’s here beneath the statue where people have created a makeshift shrine and leave flowers, candles and balloons for Francis, while others hold a banner which reads: “Today, more than ever, we need you Francesco.”
Alfonso La Femmina is another of those who have made their way to Gemelli. He tells CNN that he continues to pray and hold onto hope “that God may help.”
“When I see the news every morning and every evening that he has slept well, I feel pleased,” he says. “When I hear that he is getting better, even if his condition is stable and the progress is still uncertain, I pray, hoping that he can recover as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, under the dark and cold February skies in St. Peter’s Square, cardinals, bishops, nuns and hundreds of faithful have been gathering since Monday evening to say the rosary for the pontiff. It has echoes of a similar prayer service said for Pope John Paul II when he was seriously ill in 2005.
Francis is a popular pope, with many who were already in Rome for vacations or on a pilgrimage as the Catholic Church celebrates its Holy Jubilee year, making their way to St. Peter’s Square amid the pope’s health crisis.
“We wanted to come here because I think it concerns all Christians,” says Richardo Martinez, a tourist from Spain visiting with his family on Wednesday, according to Reuters. “In Spain, everything concerning the health of the Holy Father is being followed very closely, and I think it is a good time to be here and pray for him and ask for him to get better.”
Father Carlos, a priest also from Spain, says: “We are awaiting the medical reports. We have to keep praying. May he recover soon.”
On Sunday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, said in a homily from St Patrick’s Cathedral that the pope is “probably close to death.”
And in a memo sent to the priests of New York archdiocese, and seen by CNN, the cardinal’s vicar general said the pope is nearing “the end of his earthly journey” and made suggestions for how they should mark this. There is no evidence that the cardinal has additional or privileged information about Francis’ health.
Francis’ bridge-building pontificate means his influence reaches beyond the Catholic Church. Prayers being said for the pontiff have come from all sorts of places; from the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Egypt – who has a close bond with Francis – to an inter-religious service at a Buddhist temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Yet, as Francis himself has observed, whenever a pope gets ill, the winds of a conclave start to blow. And right now, the Vatican has a pre-conclave feel.
It all comes amid increased fascination in a papal election following the popularity of the movie, “Conclave,” which is up for several Oscars on March 2. The sense of an impending papal election is only intensified by the evening prayer services in the square, which are being led by different cardinals each day. On Wednesday, it will be the turn of Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, whose job is to oversee the running of a conclave.
But don’t count Francis out just yet. While the pope is physically frail, he remains spiritually and psychologically resilient. And since his hospitalization, he has shown he wants to fight on.
Elisabetta Pique, a papal biographer and correspondent for La Argentina’s La Nacion, told CNN that her compatriot is a very spiritual man but also one who is “determined,” “stubborn” and driven by a deep sense of mission.
The Argentinian pope was trained as a Jesuit, a religious order which has a long history of embarking on missionary work in hostile or dangerous territories. He had been working at an intense pace right up until his hospitalization. Antonio Spadaro, a fellow Jesuit and adviser to the pope, said Francis’ mentality is “to keep working while he is alive and die in the trenches.”
From his hospital room, the pope signals he’s still in charge. On Monday, he met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State, and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the papal chief of staff and announced a consistory (a meeting of the pope and cardinals) to decide sainthood causes at an unspecified date. Incidentally, it was at a consistory in February 2013 that Benedict XVI announced his intention to resign.
Francis also seems aware of the Vatican’s reputation for being opaque about papal health matters. He is behind the daily release of relatively detailed information about his medical condition and, before he received anyone from the Vatican in hospital, met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She, and not the Vatican, then offered the world the update that so many had wanted to hear: the pope was “alert” and cracking jokes. Even in a critical condition, Francis remains politically astute.
Yet the longer the pope is hospitalized, the more speculation grows about a possible papal resignation. Francis wrote a letter in 2013 making provisions should he become incapacitated, a similar move to one taken by many of his recent predecessors, and some wonder whether he will continue as pope if the long-term prognosis means he might be impeded from governing the Catholic Church.
Francis, a master of surprise, is unlikely to have told anyone his plans. And so the world continues to wait, with a term being used in Rome about these intense days succinctly summing up the feeling of so many: “montagne russe” – a rollercoaster.
CNN’s Ben Wedeman, Fiona Sibbett, Antonia Mortensen and Sharon Braithwaite contributed to this story. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/europe/pope-francis-health-prayers-rome-intl/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 7ddb73c8-c113-5e28-af93-a605e14a9dd4 |
Pro-Russia Romanian presidential candidate questioned by prosecutors, his team says | Christian Edwards | Calin Georgescu, a far-right presidential candidate in Romania, has been taken in for questioning by police as part of an investigation into his campaign, which last year prompted the country’s constitutional court to cancel an election.
Georgescu was pulled over for questioning by police on Wednesday as he was about to file his new candidacy for the new presidential election, set for May, his communications team announced.
“Where is democracy, where are the partners who must defend democracy?” his team asked in a post on Facebook, in an apparent appeal to Trump administration officials who have recently voiced support for Georgescu.
Georgescu, a former soil scientist who was virtually unknown before last year’s presidential election, unexpectedly won the first round of the vote in Romania, a NATO member that shares a border with Ukraine.
During his TikTok-fueled campaign, Georgescu was critical of NATO, skeptical about Western support for Ukraine and warm towards Vladimir Putin, calling the Russian president a “patriot.”
Before the second-round vote, Romania’s constitutional court annulled the election, saying its decision was motivated by fears of foreign interference.
Declassified intelligence documents from Romania’s top security council revealed evidence of “aggressive hybrid Russian attacks” and suggested the wave of TikTok videos supporting Georgescu “could have been coordinated by a state actor.”
This story has been updated. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/europe/romania-georgescu-election-prosecutors-intl/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 1f1000a9-4a23-5398-be32-a21e3e71fab7 |
As the clock ticks down on the Gaza ceasefire, Israel prepares for more war | Mick Krever | Editor’s Note: A version of this story appears in CNN’s Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a weekly look inside the region’s biggest stories. Sign up here.
One month ago, Israelis and Palestinians felt that rarest of things: optimism.
After months of stalled talks, there was finally a ceasefire in Gaza. There seemed to be a real path towards the end of the war.
But the situation has changed drastically since then.
The 42-day truce between Israel and Hamas is set to expire this weekend unless an agreement is struck to extend it. The two sides were meant to begin talks on a permanent end to the war in early February; three weeks later, they still haven’t started.
Since the deal was struck, there’s been a vibe shift in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is buoyed by the return of US President Donald Trump and under pressure from far-right members of his own cabinet to return to war. The Gaza ceasefire looks increasingly like it may end up being a fleeting interlude.
“We are ready to return to intense combat at any moment,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told graduating military officers on Sunday. “The operational plans are ready.”
Netanyahu made his tenuous commitment to the ceasefire clear when he traveled to Washington DC to meet Trump earlier this month and opted not to send a negotiating team to Qatar or Egypt, which mediated the ceasefire.
He has replaced Israel’s security chiefs, who previously led ceasefire negotiations, with a close political ally – his minister of strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, who is said to be close to the Trump administration. Israeli media last week was briefed by a “senior official” castigating the security chief-led negotiating team for giving Hamas too much in previous talks.
Even during the initial ceasefire negotiations it was clear that Netanyahu was skeptical of its potential second phase.
The first phase was always temporary for him. It was a way to get some hostages home without permanently ending the war or having to talk about what Gaza will look like once it’s over. Nearly 17 months since October 7, he has yet to present his vision for Gaza’s future, except to say that neither Hamas nor the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority should govern.
The second phase was always going to be trickier. It would see Hamas and Israel agree to a permanent end to hostilities, the release of all living Israeli hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, including from the Gaza-Egypt border.
Netanyahu is under tremendous pressure to return to war. His finance minister, the far-right-winger Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to withdraw from the governing coalition if Israel doesn’t restart the war after this weekend. Itamar Ben Gvir quit his post as national security minister over the ceasefire.
Netanyahu is trying to extend the current terms of the ceasefire without any of the tough commitments required by a potential second phase. An Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN Tuesday that the government is trying to extend the first phase “by as much as possible” in the hope of releasing more hostages.
It is unclear whether Hamas, for whom the hostages are their most valuable asset, would continue releasing Israelis without an Israeli commitment to end the war.
Though Trump championed and took credit for the ceasefire, his messaging since taking office has hardly been that of a peacemaker. He’s proposed expelling Palestinians from Gaza, he’s considering some Israelis’ desire to annex the West Bank, and he’s expressed doubt about the fate of the ceasefire. “I can’t tell you whether or not the cease fire will hold,” he said earlier this month. “We are going to see whether or not it holds.”
Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, is returning to the region this week to try to save the ceasefire. He hardly expressed optimism when he spoke with the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, at a Saudi investment conference in Miami last week. “Phase two is more difficult,” Witkoff said. “But I think ultimately if we work hard that there’s a real chance of success.”
Hours after Hamas released six Israeli hostages this weekend, Israel’s cabinet said it wasn’t going to uphold its end of the exchange – the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The Israeli government and many international observers have expressed horror at the Hamas’ propaganda ceremonies staged to hand hostages to the Red Cross. It appears two incidents last week – the initial failure to hand over Shiri Bibas’ body and the staging of dead Israelis’ coffins under the banner of a bloodsucking Netanyahu – were a step too far. Hamas would have to stop “the humiliating ceremonies,” the prime minister’s office said.
Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif Al-Qanou called Israel’s decision not to release the prisoners a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement.
Critics of the Israeli government point out that Israel, too, has staged propaganda campaigns. Palestinian detainees released by Israel – some of whom have committed serious crimes, but most of whom were held without charge – have been made to wear sweatshirts upon their release with a Star of David and the Arabic phrase: “We don’t forget or forgive.” Others have said that they were made to watch hours of Israeli propaganda videos ahead of their release.
The future of the ceasefire now seems to come down to a simple calculation. Will Hamas see enough value in a short-lived peace to continue releasing hostages without long-term commitments from Israel? And if not, will the American government pressure Israel into the concessions necessary for a second phase?
Two million Palestinians struggling to survive depend on the answer. So too do the 63 hostages who remain in Gaza – just under half of whom are thought to be alive.
“Please, I just want to go home,” Evyatar David, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, said Saturday in a Hamas propaganda video as he watched hostages handed to the Red Cross. Though he was likely speaking under duress, David’s family authorized the video’s release.
“The time has come to end it,” he said. “You started something, finish it. Please.”
Eugenia Yosef and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/middleeast/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-intl/index.html | 2025-02-25 | a140fd3b-2916-5aa4-8d73-e7b4d4c3d856 |
The US wants Ukraine’s ‘critical’ minerals. Here’s why | Katherine Jennings | President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky are in talks for a deal that could allow access to Ukraine’s natural deposits of critical minerals used to create electronics, weapons and other technology.
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/world/video/ukraine-rare-earth-minerals-titanium-lithium-digvid-stewart | 2025-02-26 | f283ae09-4b3e-5495-97d2-6e0c9ddcf029 |
Following delay, Israel agrees to release Palestinian detainees in new exchange as fragile Gaza ceasefire appears intact | Eugenia Yosef, Kareem Khadder, Mick Krever | Days after Israel failed to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange for six hostages held in Gaza, the government has agreed to a new exchange, according to an Israeli source and Hamas, indicating the fragile ceasefire remains intact for now.
The Egyptian-brokered agreement between Hamas and Israel will see the exchange of the final four bodies of hostages due to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire deal for the 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees that should have been freed last Saturday, according to the Israeli source. Among the detainees are 23 children and one woman.
Israel had delayed their release in protest of what it said is the cruel treatment of hostages during their release by Hamas and demanding guarantees that future hostage releases would take place without “humiliating ceremonies.”
Advocates for Palestinians prisoners and detainees, in turn, have expressed repeated concerns about the delay, and Israel’s treatment of those held in detention. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society says 69 Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli detention since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, of whom 38 were detained in Gaza.
Hamas released six Israeli hostages from Gaza on Saturday in two public ceremonies and one private transfer, in what was the final return of living hostages in the first phase of a ceasefire deal that began last month.
Hamas accused Israel of violating the truce with the delay, casting some uncertainty over the precarious ceasefire deal, and said talks on a second phase would not be possible until they are freed.
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Hamas confirmed that an agreement with Israel had been made through Egyptian mediators, but did not specify how many Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and detainees would be released.
An Egyptian official confirmed the agreement between Israel and Hamas was reached, according to a statement by the Egyptian government’s media office.
The Israeli official confirmed to CNN that the release of the remains of four hostages held in Gaza could happen as early as Wednesday evening.
Hamas and its allies continue to hold 63 hostages in Gaza. At least 36 of those are believed to be dead, according to the Israeli government – one of whom, the soldier Hadar Goldin, has been held since 2014.
The 42-day truce between Israel and Hamas is set to expire this weekend unless an agreement is struck to extend it. The two sides were meant to begin talks on a permanent end to the war in early February, but those discussions have not begun yet.
The latest agreement between Israel and Hamas came as mourners in southern Israel lined the streets ahead of a funeral Wednesday for Shiri Bibas and her two young sons Kfir and Ariel, who were taken hostage in the October 7 Hamas-led attack and killed in Gaza.
Their bodies were returned to Israel last week under the ceasefire arrangement.
The Bibas family invited the public to gather along the funeral route to pay their respects to the two children and their mother ahead of a private ceremony near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel.
At just nine months, Kfir was the youngest person kidnapped and held hostage in Gaza. Along with his brother, Ariel, who was four, they became prominent symbols of the plight of the hostages held in Gaza throughout the war.
Their father Yarden Bibas, who was also taken hostage, was released on February 1 after 484 days of captivity as part of the ceasefire agreement.
The return of Shiri, Kfir and Ariel’s bodies last week caused much pain and consternation in Israel after the remains of Kfir and Ariel were returned without their mother, as promised, but rather with the body of an unidentified Palestinian woman – a development which threatened to derail the fragile ceasefire agreement.
Shiri’s remains were later returned to Israel.
Crowds gathered along the funeral route held Israeli and yellow flags, symbolizing the campaign to bring the hostages home, as a procession for the two young boys and their mother passed.
“We are accompanied by the people of Israel in droves,” the Bibas family said in a statement shared by the Israeli hostage families forum. “We see and hear you” and “are moved and strengthened by you,” it said.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the number of hostages who are believed to be dead.
CNN’s Mostafa Salem and Helen Regan contributed to this report. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/middleeast/israel-hamas-new-exchange-ceasefire-intl-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-26 | d66206ba-c86d-5c23-af39-97f87d2af49d |
State of emergency declared after blackout plunges most of Chile into darkness | Gerardo Lemos, Ana Melgar, Mauricio Torres, Michael Rios | Chile’s president has declared a state of emergency after an electricity blackout plunged most of the country into darkness on Tuesday, including the capital Santiago.
The outage – in the middle of Chile’s summer, when temperatures in Santiago are around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) – has affected some 8 million homes, President Gabriel Boric said in an address to the nation on Tuesday evening.
The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service said 14 of the country’s 16 regions were impacted by the blackout, which began Tuesday afternoon.
Internet and mobile phone services were down across much of the nation and parts of Santiago’s transport network was suspended, stranding commuters, as officials scrambled to restore power.
By Wednesday, the government said that 90% of homes and businesses affected by the blackout had had their electricity restored, according to the Chilean National Electric Coordinator.
But Chilean Interior Minister, Carolina Tohá, acknowledged in a news conference that the service still had ongoing problems and that 220,000 customers remain without power. She also added that 100% of public transport services had been restored, and that the state of emergency would be lifted later.
Tohá also said an investigation had been opened to establish what caused the outage. “One thing is the original failure that the company had (…) and another thing is how that system responds once the incident occurs.”
Isabel Rosales reports on how a severe drought in Northern Chile is impacting residents.
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The National Electrical Coordinator, Chile’s grid operator, earlier said a high-voltage backbone transmission line, that carries power from the Atacama Desert of northern Chile to Santiago in the country’s central valley, had been disrupted, leading to the blackout. It did not say what caused the disruption.
The president said the state of emergency aimed to “guarantee the safety” of citizens as the outage may last into the night. Authorities also announced a curfew in effect from 10 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Boric blamed the debacle on the electricity companies, saying “it is not tolerable” that millions of people have been affected.
“We are not going to let this pass and we are going to act firmly against companies that have not risen to the occasion. For this reason, all the necessary investigations will be carried out,” he said.
Tohá said hospitals, prisons and government buildings were switching to backup generators to keep essential services running and that the national gendarmerie force had been deployed on the streets, to maintain security and support the flow of traffic.
“Our first concern, and the reason for this announcement, is to ensure people’s safety,” she said. “Obviously, this was something no one planned for.”
Daily life across much of the country came to a standstill on Tuesday as the blackouts suspended transport and paralyzed businesses.
Metro services in Santiago, home to around 8 million people, were suspended until further notice and passengers were evacuated, Transport Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz said.
Videos shared on social media showed dozens of passengers disembarking from metro cars and being guided by workers in the dark to exit stations.
Santiago International Airport said in a post on X that flights are operating regularly thanks to emergency backup systems. Chile’s LATAM Airlines said some of its flights could be affected.
The outage knocked out internet connectivity across much of Chile, according to internet watchdog NetBlocks, which reported national connectivity at 25% of ordinary levels.
Officials also suspended a soccer match during the national Copa Chile tournament, saying it would be rescheduled shortly.
Health Minister Ximena Aguilera said its healthcare network is fully operational, running on generators that will provide hours of power.
In addition to Santiago, the blackout has also affected the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo, Araucanía, Valparaíso, O’Higgins, Maule, Biobío, Los Lagos, Los Ríos and Ñuble.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Avery Schmitz contributed to this report. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/americas/chile-blackout-14-regions-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 91ee23ac-09cf-5fc7-88c5-f5646a57692f |
CNN analyzes Trump’s AI Gaza video | Adefela Olowoselu, Salma Abdelaziz | President Donald Trump posted what appears to be an AI-generated video on Truth Social showing the transformation of Gaza into a Gulf state-like resort. Trump has previously proposed expelling 2.1 million Palestinians from Gaza to turn it into a "Riviera" owned by the US.
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/world/video/trump-ai-gaza-video-breakdown-digvid | 2025-02-26 | ac378c1b-ab7c-50fb-a9c8-56b675d385e7 |
Israel delays release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees following recovery of six Israeli hostages from Gaza | Mick Krever, Ivana Kottasová, Brad Lendon, Irene Nasser | Israel has delayed an expected release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange for returned Israeli hostages “until further notice,” the Palestinian Prisoners Society said early Sunday.
Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the postponement, demanding guarantees that future hostage releases will take place without “humiliating ceremonies.”
Hamas released six Israeli hostages from Gaza on Saturday in two public ceremonies and one private transfer, the final return of live hostages in this first phase of a ceasefire deal that began last month. The next release, of the remains of four more hostages, is expected Thursday.
In return for Saturday’s release, Israel was expected to free 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including 23 children and one woman. But Israeli officials delayed that release, citing further security reviews.
Hamas’ media office had earlier accused Israel of violating the truce with the delay, casting some uncertainty over the precarious ceasefire deal.
The delay, announced in the early hours of Sunday local time, is a response to Hamas’s “repeated violations” of the deal, according to the Prime Minister’s Office, including using hostages in videos and public displays that “demean their dignity.”
Hamas had released a heavily edited propaganda video showing two unreleased Israeli captives watching Saturday’s hostage release ceremony from a vehicle. The hostages seen in the video – identified by the Hostages and Missing Families’ Forum as Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa Dalal – plead for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure their freedom. The men were likely speaking under duress.
The two men’s families authorized media use of “the sickening Hamas video,” according to the forum.
Hamas and its allies continue to hold 63 Israeli hostages in Gaza. At least 32 of those are believed to be dead, according to the Israeli government – one of whom, the soldier Hadar Goldin, has been held since 2014.
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The first two hostages to be released on Saturday – Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 38 – were turned over to Red Cross officials in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Shoham was kidnapped from kibbutz Be’eri during the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, along with his two children, wife, and mother-in-law, all of whom were released the following month. Mengistu, an Israeli from Ashkelon, crossed into Gaza in 2014.
Later, thousands of people including Hamas fighters gathered at a separate location in Nuseirat, central Gaza, where three of the hostages – Eliya Cohen, 27, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23 – were handed over in another heavily choreographed ceremony. A number of children appeared on the stage wearing shirts bearing photographs of Hamas leaders who had been killed.
The three men were kidnapped at the Nova music festival near the border with Gaza during the October 7 attack. They appeared thin but in better condition than some previously freed hostages, whose appearance sparked alarm in Israel. Shem Tov seemed to engage with some of the Hamas fighters on stage and blew a kiss toward the crowd.
A sixth hostage, 37-year-old Hisham al-Sayed, an Arab-Israeli from a Bedouin community in southern Israel who walked into Gaza in 2015, was turned over to the Red Cross in Gaza City, according to an Israeli security source and a Hamas source.
Al-Sayed and Mengistu both reportedly have serious mental health conditions. They were captured by Hamas about a decade ago.
The Israeli military said the hostages had crossed into Israel and would receive medical assessments before being reunited with their families.
Crowds gathered in Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square” to witness the releases on screen, some waving to the sky as a helicopter carrying Mengistu passed overhead.
Just before being handed over to the Red Cross in Rafah early on Saturday morning, Shoham and Mengistu were paraded on stage, flanked by armed and masked militants. They were handed documents, and Shoham was forced to address the crowd.
In contrast, al-Sayed received a quieter handover, which one leading Bedouin figure in Israel said showed Hamas’ respect of “the Palestinians in the occupied territories.”
Many from this often marginalized community – one of several ethnic minority groups in Israel – identify distinctly as Bedouin Israelis, while others see themselves as Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Throughout the day, crowds of Palestinians waited under heavy rain in front of Gaza’s European Hospital in Khan Younis, anticipating the eventual arrival of their loved ones. As the hours passed, some trickled out of the hospital while others slept in the hospital corridors in hopes of waiting out the delay.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners Society, 620 prisoners were expected to be released from Israeli detention on Saturday – a slightly higher figure than previously reported and the largest number of Palestinian prisoners to be exchanged since the ceasefire deal began.
Just under 500 of those are expected to be sent back to Gaza, including 445 who were detained in the enclave since the war began in October 2023 and have been held without charge, as well as 23 children and one woman, according to the group.
In addition, 151 prisoners serving life sentences and long sentences were due to be released to the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem and some sent into exile.
According to prison authorities, a senior Israeli prisons official, Lt. Col. Kobi Yaakovi, ordered the Palestinian prisoners to wear clothes that included the inscription: “I have pursued mine enemies and overtaken them; neither did I turn back till they were consumed.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Saturday’s hostage release was a “moving and joyful moment” but was accompanied by “deep pain over the fate of Shiri Bibas and her sons.”
The remains of Bibas – the Israeli mother whose young family became a symbol for the plight of hostages being held in Gaza – had been expected to be among those of four hostages returned by Hamas on Thursday, alongside her sons Kfir and Ariel, and another captive, Oded Lifshitz.
However, while forensic tests confirmed that the remains included those of the two boys and Lifshitz, the fourth body was not that of Shiri Bibas – and nor did it match that of any other Israeli hostage, prompting demands for the correct remains to be returned.
On Friday evening, Bibas’ remains arrived in Tel Aviv following condemnation in Israel.
“Last night, our Shiri was brought home. After the identification process at the Institute for Forensic Medicine, we received the news this morning that we had feared: our Shiri was murdered in captivity,” said a statement from her family provided by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum on Saturday.
Hamas, which says Shiri and the two boys were killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2023, said that her body may have earlier been mixed up with the body of another person killed in the airstrike, and vowed to investigate.
Israel and Hamas are holding indirect negotiations to extend the ceasefire. Those talks began more than two weeks late.
CNN’s Lauren Izso, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Tim Lister, Lucas Lilieholm, Brad Lendon, Ibrahim Dahman and Khader Al-Za’anoun of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, contributed reporting. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/22/middleeast/hamas-israel-hostage-release-intl-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-22 | d4e75a1b-8771-514c-be73-e48f0ac16947 |
Tens of thousands join mass funeral for slain Hezbollah leader Nasrallah | Unknown | The long-delayed funeral for Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah took place on Sunday, nearly five months after he was killed in a massive Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Hezbollah has been left badly depleted by Israeli attacks and the mass event was intended as a show of strength for the militant and political group. Israel struck several locations in southern and eastern Lebanon during the mass funeral, according to local and state media. The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah stockpiles of weapons.
A formation of Israeli fighter jets flew very low over the main site of the funeral after Nasrallah’s coffin was unveiled in what Israel’s military called “a clear message” to the group. The Israeli military on Sunday also released footage of what it says is Nasrallah’s assassination.
Tens of thousands of mourners flooded Beirut’s largest stadium, where the ceremony began, and packed the surrounding streets. A large procession trailed the late leader’s hearse to a shrine in southern Beirut, erected as his final resting place.
Mourners threw scarves at the hearse which pallbearers touched on Nasrallah’s turban, placed on top of the Hezbollah-draped coffin, and lobbed it back to mourners.
Speaking from a remote location, Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem addressed mourners and vowed to continue down Nasrallah’s path “even if we are all killed.”
Sunday’s ceremony also commemorated Nasrallah’s successor, Hashem Safieddine, who led the militant group for just days before an Israeli strike killed him in early October.
Nasrallah was secretly buried in a private ceremony shortly after his death, according to Hezbollah officials. That he was only buried on Sunday underscores the militant group’s weakened state, after an Israeli military campaign in Lebanon last autumn nearly wiped out the group’s top military brass and killed thousands of its fighters, in addition to hundreds of civilians.
A ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel was signed last November, ending a months-long war, but drove the militant group deeper underground with Israel continuing to strike what it describes as Hezbollah targets.
Nasrallah’s death marks the end of an era for a militant group that grew from a rag-tag group of guerrilla fighters in 1982 to a regional force whose influence spanned at least four countries.
He was elected leader of the armed group in 1992 as a 32-year-old cleric. He went on to preside over a guerrilla campaign in southern Lebanon that ultimately drove Israeli forces out of the country in 2000, ending a 22-year occupation. In 2006, he led Hezbollah militants in an all-out war against Israel, which devastated large parts of Lebanon but foiled Israel’s stated goal of dismantling the group.
When wars raged in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, Nasrallah’s forces intervened on behalf of groups backed by Iran, shoring up Tehran’s support.
But Hezbollah’s fortunes changed after the Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel which killed around 1,200 people on October 7, 2023. The militant group launched daily rocket attacks on Israel’s northernmost territory, in support of Hamas, displacing some 60,000 Israelis. Around 100,000 Lebanese residents of the south were also displaced in Israeli attacks as part of a tit-for-tat that spanned nearly a year before it spiralled into an all-out war last September.
Nasrallah called it a “supportive front” that he said aimed to pressure Israel into ceasing its retaliatory offensive in Gaza, which has laid waste to large parts of the besieged territory and killed over 48,000 people.
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In mid-September, Israel detonated explosives implanted in thousands of pagers and walkie talkies carried by Hezbollah members and assassinated several of the group’s leaders, laying bare Israel’s thorough infiltration of the armed group.
Severely weakened, Hezbollah’s future as a militant group is being called into question. Israel has vowed to continue to strike the group’s positions until the group disarms and has maintained five strategic positions inside Lebanon’s southern-most territory, breaching the November ceasefire agreement.
The group, which enjoys broad support among Shia Muslims across the region, is a designated terror organization in the US and many other Western countries.
Domestically, the group has come under increasing pressure to lay down its arms. That culminated with the newly elected President Joseph Aoun’s inaugural speech in January when he called on weapons to be monopolized under the authority of the state.
Hezbollah has long resisted calls to give up their arms, which it argues have prevented Israel’s reoccupation of the country. Its detractors say their militancy makes a viable Lebanese state impossible.
This story has been updated with additional information. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/23/middleeast/nasrallah-funeral-hezbollah-lebanon-intl/index.html | 2025-02-23 | f40410a3-7825-5b34-8ab7-5274d3870e86 |
Burberry closes London Fashion Week with a ‘stealth wealth’-inspired show | Kati Chitrakorn | In case you missed the memo, “quiet luxury” is still having its moment. Despite expert predictions that people (having played it safe with their fashion purchases throughout a cost-of-living crisis) would soon return to embracing a more individual sense of style, the latest Burberry collection was rooted in sumptuous materials, neutral colors and discreet details — all the hallmarks of “stealth wealth” dressing.
Presented on Monday at London’s Tate Britain museum, a stone’s throw from Burberry’s headquarters on Horseferry Road, the British house’s Fall-Winter 2025 show opened with a model wearing a short jacket, riding trousers and scarf with wide fringed edges, all in the same shade of oatmeal. Looks in khaki, brown and maroon soon followed, as did more opulent pieces, including leather trench coats, brocade suits and shearling-lined jackets.
The clothes were modelled by a high-profile cast including runway regulars Naomi Campbell, Edie Campbell and Erin O’ Connor, but also surprise appearances from actors Richard E. Grant, Lesley Manville and Elizabeth McGovern, as well as Lila Moss, the daughter of supermodel Kate Moss. The star-studded front row included actors Nicholas Hoult, Orlando Bloom and Kim Cattrall, among others. (Though, it was a literal knight in shining armor — who also features in Burberry’s newest campaign — that stole that show, as he entertained famous guests by taking selfies with them.)
Probed by media on the speculation that he might be leaving to join Jil Sander (the Milan-based label that shares the same owner as Diesel), Daniel Lee, who is into his fifth fashion show as Burberry’s chief creative officer, vehemently professed his love for Burberry. “It’s really an honor to work for Burberry. It’s an incredible brand,” he told a small group of journalists backstage after the show. “Things are going well. They’re definitely improving. I think we’re all in a really positive place.”
A lot is riding on Lee and CEO Joshua Schulman, who joined in July, to improve the company’s fortunes. Despite being one of British fashion’s biggest luxury brands, Burberry has been beleaguered by plunging sales and profits, costing it a place on the UK’s FTSE 100 index (which brings together the 100 most valuable companies on the London Stock Exchange) last September.
Schulman, who is more than half a year into the role, seemed to be in good spirits as he posed for photographs and sat on the front row next to model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and stylist and former British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful. Some of that may have to do with Burberry’s promising start to the year: the company saw a boost in shares after reporting a smaller-than-expected drop in sales over the holiday period.
After a botched attempt by Burberry to move upmarket, Schulman outlined a new strategy for the struggling brand in November, which included a greater focus on its key emblems, such as outerwear and its signature check, and a wider pricing structure. Schulman also shared an annual revenue target of £3 billion (about $3.7 billion), but did not provide a specific timeline for achieving that goal. Burberry reported annual revenues of £2.97 billion ($3.75 billion) for the 2024 fiscal year.
Continued emphasis on Burberry’s heritage was clearly on the mind of Lee, who shared his fascination with the portrayal of British high society in period dramas. “I would say that probably ‘Saltburn’ (the dark comedy starring actor Barry Keoghan, a Burberry ambassador) was the first movie that kicked me off onto that trip,” Lee said. “I really enjoyed how people lived in this old, incredible mansion, dressed in an eccentric way for dinner and had crazy parties. It was this kind of bohemian spirit (and) energy that I wanted to portray in the show.”
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As for the collection’s earthy colors, Lee explained that he had “spent a lot of time over the holidays, walking in nature, in Yorkshire,” where he hails from. That felt fitting for Burberry, which “is an incredible coat brand,” Lee said. “People associate coats with protecting them from the outdoors and the weather. And Burberry is a brand that’s made for being on-the-go, being outside, and being able to (sustain) different types of weather and terrain.”
What’s apparent is a feeling of comfort from Lee. Much like the cozy wintry pieces he had on show, the designer also appeared more relaxed than usual — so much so that one might wonder if he has his eye on an exit, or whether he simply feels more at ease in the job. Time will tell, although one hopes for a different outcome to “Saltburn”: a lavish house, with characters stuck in old ways and an ill-fated end. The film is set in 2006, which coincidentally marks the center-point of Burberry’s heyday. Make of that what you will. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/style/burberry-daniel-lee-fall-winter-2025-show/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 00e66806-78ed-5c48-ac08-6d4e49f3c2cc |
China’s ‘Puppy Mountain’ goes viral | Unknown | When Shanghai-based designer Guo Qingshan posted a vacation photo on Valentine’s Day and captioned it “Puppy Mountain,” it became a sensation in China and even created a tourist destination.
Guo had gone on a hike while visiting his hometown of Yichang in central China’s Hubei province in late January. When reviewing the photos, he saw something he hadn’t noticed before: A mountain shaped like a dog’s head rested on the ground next to the Yangtze River, its snout perched at the water’s edge.
“It was so magical and cute. I was so excited and happy when I discovered it,” Guo said.
“The puppy’s posture is like it’s drinking water, or it’s looking at some fish. It also looks like it’s quietly protecting the Yangtze River,” he said.
Guo’s post on Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, received 120,000 likes within 10 days. On the media platform Weibo, the hashtag #xiaogoushan — Chinese for “Puppy Mountain” — drew millions of views.
Dog owners started to post pictures of their dogs to see which one had the closest resemblance. Many people traveled directly to the location in Yichang to see the mountain for themselves and some even brought their dogs to take photos.
Yang Yang, who lives about an hour and half from the location, drove there with her friends and her 2-year-old grey poodle named Yang Keyi.
“I was really happy to see the mountain,” she said. “I always travel with my dog if possible, so Puppy Mountain and my own little dog really match.”
The mountain is in Yichang’s Zigui County, where it can be seen from an observation deck. The Yangtze River, the longest river in China and the third-longest river in the world, flows through the mountainous area.
After Guo’s photo went viral, many people shared photos of the view they previously had taken from the same deck, many saying they hadn’t realized it looked like a dog. Some discussed how the dog’s appearance has changed over the years.
Yichang resident Shi Tong said he knew he had seen the mountain before, and posted a photo he took of the location in 2021.
“After I saw the Puppy Mountain photo online, I tried to look up where it is. And then I realized that I have been to this place before. I thought it looked like a dog at that time too!” | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/travel/china-puppy-mountain-yichang-intl-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 6980e266-cbce-5a33-992c-15f1ecf0e418 |
Death toll in Sudan military plane crash rises to 46 | Unknown | The death toll from a Sudanese military aircraft crash in the city of Omdurman increased to at least 46 people, including women and children, officials said Wednesday, one of the deadliest plane crashes in the northeastern African nation in the past two decades.
The Antonov aircraft crashed on Tuesday over a populated district in Omdurman, also injuring at least 10 people, according to the government-run Khartoum Media Office. An initial death toll of 19 was provided by the health ministry.
The military said in a statement that the plane crashed while taking off from the Wadi Sayidna air base north of Omdurman, the sister city of the capital, Khartoum.
The crash also damaged a number of houses in the Karrari district of Omdurman, the media office said.
The military earlier said that armed forces personnel and civilians were killed in the crash, but didn’t provide figures. It didn’t say what caused the crash.
The health ministry said some bodies were transferred to the Nau hospital in Omdurman.
Among the dead were senior military officers, including Maj. Gen. Bahr Ahmed Bahr and Lt. Col. Awad Ayoub, and the aircraft crew, according to a military official.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter, said the dead include women and children, among them five siblings.
Local media reported that the aircraft was on the way to the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, the seat of the military-backed government, when it crashed over the Al-Thawra neighborhood in the Karrari district. Residents reported loud explosions from the crash, which sent thick clouds of smoke and dust over Omdurman.
Aircraft crashes are common in Sudan, which has a poor aviation safety record. In 2020, at least 16 people were killed when a military plane, a Russian Antonov An-12, crashed in the western region of Darfur.
In 2003, a civilian Sudan Airways plane crashed into a hillside while trying to make an emergency landing, killing 116 people, including eight foreigners. Only a boy survived the crash.
Sudan is also battling a cholera outbreak that has killed 1,472 people across a dozen provinces in recent months, the Health Ministry said. The disease has sickened around 56,000 since it was detected in July last year.
The dead included over 70 people who died in two cities in the White Nile province earlier this month, the ministry said. More than 2,000 others were diagnosed with the disease in the cities of Kosti and Rabak, it said.
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The outbreak was detected last year during the rainy season between July and October. Heavy rainfall and floods especially hit the country’s eastern areas where millions of war displaced people sheltered.
The outbreak added further burdens on the country, which has suffered from nearly two years of devastating war.
Sudan has been in a state of civil war since 2023 when tensions between the military and a notorious paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, exploded into open warfare.
The fighting has wrecked urban areas and has been marked by atrocities, including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in the western region of Darfur, according to the United Nations and international rights groups.
The war has intensified in recent months, with the military making steady advances against the RSF in Khartoum and elsewhere in the country.
The RSF, which controls most of Darfur, said that it downed a military aircraft on Monday in Nyala, the provincial capital of South Darfur province. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/africa/sudan-plane-crash-death-toll-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 8c0e23ac-9dff-56f5-9238-1a3f24e66d00 |
Delta flight from Los Angeles makes emergency landing due to smoke on board | Karina Tsui | A Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles International Airport bound for Sydney on Saturday was forced to return after smoke was detected on board.
The flight, DL43, which took off shortly after 9:00 p.m., returned to LAX around 30 minutes later, according to data from FlightAware.
The Airbus A350-900 aircraft landed safely and the plane proceeded to an arrival gate, Delta said in a statement to CNN. The 162 passengers on board are being reaccommodated on a different flight.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people,” the statement said. “That’s why the flight crew followed established procedures to return to Los Angeles (LAX) after smoke was detected in the galley. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels.”
The flight arrived at the gate “on its own power without further incident,” LAX spokesperson Justin Upshaw told CNN.
Upon landing, there was no smoke in the cockpit, but pilots requested medical attention for passengers who may have been affected by smoke, according to audio from LiveATC.net.
A rescue ambulance was requested for “a patient with possible smoke inhalation,” but ultimately no passengers were transported via ambulance to a hospital, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz.
CNN’s Travis Caldwell contributed to this report. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/23/travel/delta-flight-los-angeles-emergency-smoke-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-23 | f4e6bb30-7195-594b-9416-d4b35b0b892d |
Justin Tucker calls inappropriate sexual misconduct allegations against him ‘so shocking and heart-breaking’ | Ben Morse | Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker called the multiple sexual misconduct allegations leveled against him “so shocking and heart-breaking” in his first public statement in almost a month.
According to the Baltimore Banner, a total of 16 massage therapists have accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior in alleged incidents between 2012 and 2016. Tucker has always vehemently denied the allegations.
In a statement sent to CNN from Tucker’s attorneys on Wednesday, Tucker once again denied the accusations and said that he “never intended to disrespect anyone.”
“I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session, nor have I ever been told I am unwelcome at any massage therapy provider,” Tucker said. “These claims are simply not true.
“Throughout the last four weeks, I have spent countless hours replaying every interaction I have had with bodywork professionals over the last thirteen years. I can assure whoever is reading this that I have never intended to disrespect anyone, cross any boundary, or make anyone feel uncomfortable in any way whatsoever.
“It devastates me to know that anyone I have worked with would not have felt respected and valued as a professional, but more importantly as a person, and to anyone who has felt otherwise, I am sorry. I want you to know I am committed to ensuring that everyone I interact with continues to feel that I respect them and care about them as a human being.
“Physical therapy and massage therapy are a large part of why I’ve been consistently healthy and available during the football season. In fact, both my wife and I continue to count so many of those professionals as our friends. I absolutely respect the massage therapy profession and more so the individuals who work as massage therapists.”
In a statement sent to CNN following Tucker’s comments Wednesday, Michael Belsky of SBWD Law Firm in Baltimore, the attorney for the accusers, said: “Facts corroborating the allegations, including incidents of timely reporting to the spa owners of the incidents by affected therapists, are documented and an integral part of our investigation.
“We do not represent the spa owners, only the therapists. Whether the owners acted appropriately and in protection of their respective employees when faced with complaints is a completely separate issue.”
Belsky’s statement alludes to several sworn declarations from spa owners where Tucker reportedly received treatments, including one which Tucker’s attorneys sent the Banner from the owner of one of two spas which the Baltimore outlet said had banned the NFL kicker due to his behavior, reportedly saying she never received complaints about him. In addition, the attorneys told the Banner that Tucker hasn’t been banned from any spas.
In the declaration sent to the Banner, the owner also reportedly said: “Based on my conversations with employees of the spa, my understanding is that Mr. Tucker had an excellent reputation among the massage therapists and other employees with whom he interacted.”
On Tuesday, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta called the allegations against the Tucker “serious” and “concerning” in a news conference.
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, DeCosta’s comments were the first public statement anyone from the Ravens have made since the allegations were first reported on January 30.
“The amount of allegations are serious and concerning,” DeCosta told reporters. “I think we’re fortunate that the league is doing an investigation. We’ll wait as patiently as we can for as much information as we can. We’ll make our decisions based on that.”
In a statement posted on X last month, Tucker said: “I cannot allow false claims to go unchallenged. I cannot be any clearer. These allegations are false and incredibly hurtful to both me and, more importantly, my family.”
When the first allegations were reported in January, the NFL said it took “any allegation seriously” and that it was investigating them. When contacted by CNN after the Banner reported the seven new accusers last week, the NFL said: “The matter remains under review of the Personal Conduct Policy.”
According to three of the accusers who spoke to the Banner, the NFL has been in Baltimore recently interviewing them for further information.
DeCosta said that he has met with the league and also spoken to Tucker, but would “keep those comments to myself.”
“I think in this case we’re awaiting as much information as possible,” DeCosta said. “Again, we’re fortunate that the league has come down to Baltimore, met with the league. I believe the league is meeting with other people in Baltimore as well. We’ll wait for the details of that investigation, and we’ll make a decision based on that.”
Later on Tuesday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters that he’d also spoken to Tucker about the allegations.
“The NFL is looking into it,” Harbaugh said. “They’re going to review it, try to gather all the facts, and I’m sure we’ll have an understanding of it at that time. Once there’s an understanding of it, then you have a chance to make some decisions.”
When asked about the accusations, Harbaugh added: “It’s not what you want to wake up and read. It’s not something you want to see … things that are hurtful and harmful to people, painful – there’s too many headlines like that.”
The Banner’s original report says the first six accusers did not file lawsuits or contact law enforcement and the latest report does not indicate whether the other 10 have done so.
No charges have been filed.
However, the Banner said that Belsky told the outlet that he and his law firm are “continuing to gather the facts and the chronology of events, in order to see where that leads us.”
Tucker – a 13-year veteran who is known as one of the league’s best place kickers – has previously said in his statement posted on X, in January that he had “never been accused of acting inappropriately in front of a massage therapist or during any massage therapy session… never received any complaints from a massage therapist … and have never been told that I was not welcome at any spa or other place of business.”
“In accusing me of misconduct, the article takes innocuous, or ambiguous, interactions and skews them so out of proportion they are no longer recognizable, and it presents vague insinuations as fact,” Tucker said in a statement posted on X last month. “This is desperate tabloid fodder.”
Tucker won Super Bowl XLVII with the Ravens in 2013 and owns the highest career field goal percentage (89.1%), making him the most accurate kicker in NFL history. | cnn_sports | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/sport/justin-tucker-eric-decosta-accusations-ravens-spt-intl/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 38f306bf-efa1-5e3d-991a-919b2ca4a3c2 |
Winning lottery ticket bought with stolen credit card | Camila Moreno-Lizarazo | Pierre Debuisson joins The Lead
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/world/video/the-lead-money-crime-lottery-france-stolen-ticket-jake-tapper | 2025-02-25 | 2e25e28f-cbcb-54fd-9624-c05a13da024a |
Ashtrays on planes, bad odors and ‘top-down problems’: Takeaways from the NFL Players Association’s annual report card | Ben Morse | It’s that time of year where fans learn some hard truths about life playing for their favorite NFL franchise.
Wednesday saw the annual release of the NFL Players Association’s (NFLPA) report cards, which sees players across the league rate teams across multiple categories and grade how they feel about turning out for them.
Here are the main takeaways.
The report cards released by the NFLPA have now become an annual tradition, with 2025 the third edition of the initiative.
Almost 1,700 players from throughout the NFLPA provide feedback on the league’s 32 teams across 11 categories and the union ranks teams depending on those gradings.
The categories are:
According to NFLPA chief strategy officer and former NFL offensive lineman JC Tretter, the union conducts the exercise “to not only help them make important career decisions, but also help raise standards across the league.”
Last year’s top-ranked team retained its spot atop the NFL hierarchy as the Miami Dolphins reigned supreme once again.
The team was rated first in seven out of the 11 categories, with Stephen Ross once again the highest-graded owner.
The Dolphins made strides to upgrade their gameday locker room at Hard Rock Stadium. The NFLPA writes: “The quality of the facilities is matched by the quality of the people in the building, making for an extremely positive player experience.”
One of the biggest risers this year was the Washington Commanders. Under new ownership – Josh Harris took over from Dan Snyder in 2023 – the Commanders had a renaissance on the field in 2024.
And that improvement included off the field growth too. Washington was last for the past two years straight but rose dramatically to 11th this time around. According to the survey, the most important change was the hiring of head coach Dan Quinn in the offseason who was the highest-ranked head coach across all teams. Players said the team is “positively changing the culture – and it shows both in the survey results and on the field.”
The team also heavily improved its food program, improved treatment of players’ families and the transport for the players. The main issue holding the team back is its facility, with players saying it is “old and in need of major renovation.”
While there were upwardly mobile teams throughout the report cards, it is a different story for some other teams, including the bottom-ranked team.
The Arizona Cardinals fell from 27th a year ago to 32nd after a scathing review. The team was rated in the bottom three for seven of the 11 categories, and last in two of them – locker room and training room.
According to the players surveyed, the team is in need of an “updated, modernized and expanded team facility,” with the majority of the building being described as “too small.”
Players also highlighted that the smaller things the organization could improve on, including better food options and pre-game sideline passes for family.
The only shining light was their head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was given an A with many players praising the second-year coach for “fostering a strong team culture.”
Elsewhere, the New York Jets fell dramatically in the rankings after a tumultuous season for the franchise.
There was angst on and off the field for the Jets in 2024, with poor results and ownership interference causing a negative atmosphere. While the food program at the Jets was highlighted as the category that needed the most improvement, the union also referenced the leadership issues, with some describing it as “top-down problems.” The Jets were the only franchise to receive an F for ownership in the survey.
The New England Patriots were ranked 31st with team travel a major area of concern – the team’s plane is described as “dated,” with only 39% of players feel they have comfortable amount of space on flights when traveling to games. The plane also lacks Wi-Fi and still has ashtrays in the seats.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were rated 27th with one of the major negatives perceived to be the cleanliness of the locker room. Forty-four percent of players reported ongoing plumbing issues and “persistent bad odors remain a problem.” | cnn_sports | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/sport/nflpa-report-card-dolphins-cardinals-spt-intl/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 789630f3-c6d2-5687-aa31-20e6821d0da3 |
Thieves bought a winning lottery ticket with a stolen credit card. Its owner has offered to split the jackpot | Jack Guy | A French man whose stolen credit card was used to buy a winning lottery ticket has offered to split the jackpot with the two thieves.
The criminals broke into Jean-David Estele’s car in the city of Toulouse on February 3 and used his credit card to buy a few items at a bar that same day, Estele’s lawyer Pierre Debuisson told CNN on Tuesday.
Among them was a lottery ticket that turned out to be a winner worth 500,000 euros ($525,000).
“It’s a miracle for both the thieves and my client,” said Debuisson, who said that Estele is offering to split the prize money with the thieves, who appear to be homeless and have since disappeared.
French police haven’t been able to identify the pair, despite finding fingerprints as part of their investigation, Debuisson said, adding that he’s appealing to the thieves to come forward.
“Without my client’s credit card it would not have been possible to buy the ticket, but without the thieves’ behavior, the ticket wouldn’t have been bought either,” said Debuisson.
“I really hope the thieves contact my office to strike a deal that benefits both them and my client, who, despite the crime, is extremely happy to have had his credit card stolen. It’s truly unbelievable,” he added.
Estele doesn’t want to press charges and the thieves “have nothing to fear from us,” said Debuisson.
“We don’t know much about the thieves beyond the fact that they are homeless. We have some video footage, but the quality is poor,” he said, adding that locating the pair is “proving difficult.”
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Estele and his wife hope to build a new house with their half of the money, Debuisson said.
“It must be the first time that a guy who gets his credit card stolen is extremely happy to be the victim of such a crime,” he added.
“I don’t think anything like this has ever happened before. I never imagined this case would gain so much attention worldwide,” added Debuisson.
“While it might not be the craziest case I’ve handled, it’s certainly the funniest.”
The story has been picked up by media outlets across the world — including China, Russia and India.
“I don’t think anything like this has ever happened before. I never imagined this case would gain so much attention worldwide,” said Debuisson.
France’s national lottery operator Française des Jeux (FDJ) said in a statement to CNN Tuesday that it was not in a position to confirm any details of the case as “no request for the payment has been made.”
Usually, winning tickets have to be claimed within 30 days of the end of the sales period.
Toulouse Police declined to comment when contacted by CNN. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/europe/france-jackpot-stolen-credit-card-scli-intl/index.html | 2025-02-25 | ee1a2de7-ac53-51dc-ac95-9b4369d872f5 |
US aid freeze puts HIV-positive orphans in Kenya at risk as medical supplies dwindle | Unknown | Two-year-old Evans was brought to the Nyumbani Children’s Home in Nairobi, Kenya a year ago, suffering from HIV and tuberculosis. With no family to care for him, Evans was referred to the orphanage by a health center after he stopped responding to medical treatment.
Nyumbani Children’s Home is the reason Evans is still alive. But political decisions made thousands of miles (kilometers) away might spell the end of his short life. Nyumbani provides him and around 100 other children with antiretroviral medication, which they have been receiving from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Kenyan government.
US President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to freeze USAID’s funding means Nyumbani’s access to life-saving antiretroviral drugs, which stop the HIV virus from replicating in the body, may end soon.
Trump’s order seeks to review almost all US foreign aid for 90 days and his administration has moved to shut down USAID. The effects are beginning to set it in, with thousands of people losing their jobs globally and humanitarian programs around the world disrupted.
For children at Nyumbani Children’s Home, it’s a life and death situation. As he plays with other preschoolers, Evans is oblivious to his uncertain future, despite the worry on his caregivers’ faces.
The tiny graves at one end of the orphanage compound are a bleak reminder of what a future without USAID looks like for the children. It’s a scenario Sister Tresa Palakudy — who has been looking after children here for 28 years — is well familiar with having worked at the orphanage before USAID started helping.
“When we started caring for them, they didn’t look like they had life in them,” she said. “One after another, they died. It was so painful, and I don’t want to see that happen again.”
When Nyumbani, which means “Home” in Swahili, was started in 1992 by Christian missionaries, antiretroviral medication had not been introduced. Back then, it operated as a rescue center for orphaned and abandoned children living with HIV, offering largely palliative care.
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The 2003 inception of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, provided new hope for children living with HIV around the continent, including the orphans at Nyumbani. PEPFAR’s humanitarian aid to combat HIV in Kenya was funded largely by USAID.
“USAID started bringing ARVs free of charge,” said Palakudy. “We put all our children on ARVs and their lives changed. They became healthy and were able to go to school and live like other children.”
Over the last two decades, the US government, through PEPFAR, has spent more than $8 billion on HIV/AIDS treatment for close to 1.3 million people in Kenya.
USAID and PEPFAR have been critical to operating Nyumbani, having donated more than $16 million to the home between 1999 and 2023. This has enabled the home to reach up to 50,000 children through the rescue center, as well as its two outreach programs Lea Toto and Nyumbani Village. The aid included direct funds to the home, which was used to run the two outreach programs.
Direct funding from USAID was discontinued in 2023, about the same time the orphanage came under scrutiny over allegations of sexual abuse of children by volunteers and staff members.
According to a Washington Post report, six former residents claimed that administrators at the home covered up allegations of sexual abuse. The home disputed the claims of a cover up, insisting that all allegations were handled according to protocols including reporting to local authorities and providing counseling to affected residents.
Executive Director Judith Wamboye said investigations by the Kenyan police were inconclusive. The discontinuation of the funds was not related to the investigations and was in line with a change in USAID policy to channel aid through the government rather than directly to organizations.
The policy change affected all organizations receiving funding. Rather than giving money directly to non-governmental organizations, funding would be channeled through government programs that catered to similar needs. As a result, Nyumbani scaled down its outreach programs and referred beneficiaries to government institutions.
With the discontinuation of direct funding from USAID, the two outreach programs under Nyumbani were scaled down and children in the program were referred to other centers. However, Nyumbani has still been reliant on USAID to supply the lifesaving PEPFAR HIV treatment drugs for free.
“The future is uncertain,” said Wamboye. “The Kenyan government announced that they only have ARV stocks to last six months.”
According to data from amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, about 1.3 million people are on HIV/AIDS treatment in Kenya, and 1,602 orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya are dependent on PEPFAR. amfAR warns that President Trump’s freeze on foreign aid could sever their access to critical medical care.
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One such child is Mercy, who has been under the care of Nyumbani for the last 12 years. The ARVs saved her life. “I had a very weak immune system,” she said. “This led me to contracting many serious illnesses like tuberculosis and skin diseases.”
Mercy was placed on HIV treatment, giving her a lifeline, but recent news on the freeze order has her scared for her life.
“I am very afraid that previous illnesses that I experienced when I was young will reoccur. And now that I have finished high school and am ready to join college, I am scared it will ruin everything,” she said.
On average, the children’s home requires $1,139 per child annually for HIV treatment. In addition to antiretrovirals, the home needs reagents to enable regular testing of the viral load in the children, as well as medicines to treat opportunistic illnesses, which are common among HIV patients.
Wamboye said that should PEPFAR be discontinued permanently, the cost of ARVs could go up and become unaffordable, which will mean children living with HIV will die.
“This is a life-saving situation and we cannot sit and wait and bargain on human life. So for us, it’s about human life, the lives that we need to save. Something needs to be done urgently,” she said. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/21/africa/us-aid-freeze-hiv-orphans-kenya-intl/index.html | 2025-02-21 | 9a5586c7-981f-52df-b26e-52d88b09ab56 |
Three men on trial over $6 million gold toilet stolen in ‘audacious raid’ | Unknown | It was not your typical smash-and-grab burglary and the booty was precious: a toilet worth more than its weight in gold.
The one-of-a-kind 18-carat gold toilet was swiped in under five minutes from Blenheim Palace, the sprawling English country mansion where British wartime leader Winston Churchill was born, in the predawn hours of September 14, 2019, a prosecutor told jurors Monday.
Attorney Julian Christopher said in his opening statement in Oxford Crown Court that it was an “audacious raid.” One of three men on trial in the case of the purloined potty was involved in stealing it and the other two helped to sell the spoils.
The toilet has never been recovered but is believed to have been cut up and sold.
The satirical work, titled “America” by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, poked fun at excessive wealth. It weighed just over 215 pounds (98 kilograms) and was insured for £4.8 million ($6 million). The value of the gold at the time was £2.8 million ($3.5 million).
The piece had previously been on display at The Guggenheim Museum in New York. The museum had offered the work to US President Donald Trump during his first term in office after he had asked to borrow a Van Gogh painting.
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One of the defendants, Michael Jones, cased the palace twice in the weeks leading up to the theft — once before the toilet went on display at Blenheim Palace and up close and personal once it was installed and fully functional as an exhibit, Christopher said. Visitors to the exhibition could book a three-minute appointment to use the toilet.
Both times, Jones took photos of the window that was later smashed to break into the palace. The second time he also took photos from inside the bathroom, including a photo of the lock on the toilet door.
“There can be no doubt that he was carrying out reconnaissance for the burglary that was to take place that night,” Christopher said. “That would be enough to make him guilty of count one of burglary.”
But Jones was also probably among the group of five men who crashed through the wooden gates of the palace before dawn the next morning in two stolen vehicles, Christopher said. They tore across a field in an Isuzu truck and VW Golf and pulled up to the front steps, where they smashed the window Jones had photographed.
They made quick work of breaking down the toilet door and removed the golden throne from the plumbing, leaving water gushing from the pipes that caused considerable damage to the 18th-century building, a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with valuable art and furniture that draws thousands of visitors each year.
Jones was in cahoots with James Sheen, a builder he worked for who was part of both the burglary and the effort to sell the gold, Christopher said. Sheen, 40, previously pleaded guilty to burglary, conspiracy and transferring criminal property.
Sheen then allegedly worked to broker a deal with Fred Doe and Bora Guccuk to cash in on the haul. In a series of text messages, he referred to the loot as a “car,” but Christopher said he was actually talking about the gold.
“I’ll link up with ya, I got something right up your path,” Sheen told Doe in one message.
“I can sell that car for you in two seconds … so come and see me tomorrow,” Doe said in a reply.
Doe, 36, and Guccuk, 41, are charged with one count of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
All the defendants have pleaded not guilty. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/style/gold-toilet-trial-blenheim-palace/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 43495a43-e3d7-5b4f-ac30-494b443621c3 |
Philippine police rescue a Chinese student whose finger was cut off by kidnappers | Unknown | MANILA (AP) — Philippine police safely recovered a Chinese student who was kidnapped by a Chinese-led gang, which killed his driver and cut off the student’s finger in a bid to force his parents to pay a huge ransom, officials said Wednesday.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the parents rejected the ransom demand but the kidnappers, who included former Filipino police officers and soldiers, abandoned the 14-year-old student Tuesday night in the middle of a busy street in metropolitan Manila when police closed in on their vehicle.
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The Feb. 20 kidnapping of the student after attending classes at a British school in Manila set off alarms due to its brazenness and brutality.
Remulla told reporters that the student’s family and the Chinese leader of the kidnappers allegedly were former operators of lucrative online gambling outfits, which flourished under former President Rodrigo Duterte but were ordered shut last year by his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The online gambling outfits, which operated in the Philippines, Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, have catered to large numbers of clients in China, where gambling is prohibited.
“We know that this crime involved a Chinese against a Chinese,” Remulla said, adding that the student’s family and the kidnappers communicated in Chinese via the WeChat app.
After the closure of illegal gambling outfits in the Philippines, some turned to other crimes, including kidnapping, Remulla said. Officials said online cryptocurrency sites, love and investment scams remained a threat.
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In a bid to pressure the student’s family to pay a ransom of $20 million, which was later reduced to $1 million, the kidnappers cut off the tip of the small finger in the victim’s right hand and sent a video of the gruesome act to his parents, Remulla said.
The student’s driver was killed and later found in an abandoned vehicle, where crucial evidence, including cellphone numbers, were found. The suspects apparently tried to leave the vehicle in a haste, Remulla said. The kidnappers have been identified and were being hunted, Remulla and police officials said. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/asia/philippines-kidnap-chinese-student-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 406a37ac-dc2a-5d10-89dd-41f30037cd00 |
US and Ukraine agree to terms on natural resources and reconstruction deal, Ukrainian official says | Victoria Butenko, Nick Paton Walsh, Gul Tuysuz | President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington, DC in the coming days, after the United States and Ukraine agreed to terms on a deal over natural resources and reconstruction, according to a Ukrainian official.
Negotiations have been ongoing for days over a deal that could grant the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as part of wider negotiations to end Russia’s invasion, as well as US involvement in a reconstruction fund for Ukraine.
The Ukrainian official said the terms were agreed after “everything unacceptable was taken out of the text and it is now more clearly spelt out how this agreement will contribute to Ukraine’s security and peace.”
Details of the agreement are not yet known, but a major sticking point had been a demand from the Trump administration to a $500 billion share of Ukraine’s rare earths and other minerals in exchange for the aid the US had already provided Kyiv, which was previously rejected by Zelensky.
The US has not confirmed whether the terms of a deal have been agreed.
“I hear that (Zelensky is) coming on Friday. Certainly it’s OK with me if he’d like to, and he would like to sign it together with me. And I understand that’s a big deal, very big deal,” US President Donald Trump said from the Oval Office on Tuesday.
Asked what Ukraine would receive in the mineral deal, Trump said: “$350 billion and lots of equipment, military equipment, and the right to fight on.”
“We’ve pretty much negotiated our deal on rare earth and various other things,” Trump told reporters, adding that “we’ll be looking to” future security for Ukraine “later on.”
“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem,” Trump said. “I spoke with Russia about it. They didn’t seem to have a problem with it. So I think they understand … once we do this, they’re not going back in.”
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Ukraine has been pushing for security guarantees, with Kyiv not only keen to see the return of lost territory but protection against a possible future Russian invasion.
European leaders have also stressed the necessity for security guarantees for Ukraine as a condition for any future peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Following his meeting with Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday proposed boosting Ukraine’s military capabilities, and – if requested – to deploy British and French troops to keep the peace.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will visit the White House on Thursday, has said a US “backstop” is needed for any Ukraine peace deal, which could potentially include security guarantees, American intelligence cooperation, air support and heavy lift transport.
News of an agreement came after the same source told CNN the Americans had resisted security guarantees being included in the draft.
The precise wording regarding Ukraine’s security in the latest draft was unclear.
CNN reported Monday, citing a Ukrainian source familiar with the negotiations, that some of the thornier details about the resources deal would be negotiated in subsequent talks, and that the US and Ukrainian presidents might discuss the security guarantees in person.
A source told CNN at the weekend that Zelensky could not accept an earlier version of the deal because it contained no American “obligations” while Ukraine was “expected to provide everything.”
Since then, there have been signs the two leaders were edging closer to an agreement.
During a visit to the White House on Monday, Macron commended Trump for his “decision to work with President Zelensky, and to conclude this agreement that’s so important for the US and Ukraine on rare earths, critical minerals.”
Meanwhile, Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine with airstrikes, firing at least 177 drones at the country overnight into Wednesday, according to Ukraine’s air force. Of these, 110 were shot down and 66 did not reach their targets, the air force said.
At least seven people were killed in the overnight attacks, including two in Kyiv region, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday.
CNN’s Svitlana Vlasova and Daria Tarasova-Markina contributed reporting. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/europe/us-ukraine-resources-reconstruction-deal-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-25 | c0393b11-29cc-5a98-b258-24f476887b82 |
Fareed Zakaria says Zelensky got what he wanted in deal with US | Austin Mabeus | CNN's Fareed Zakaria reacts to the US and Ukraine agreeing to terms on a deal over natural resources and reconstruction.
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/world/video/ukraine-us-deal-fareed-zakaria-ac360-digvid | 2025-02-25 | 8f7dcb03-3ec8-5914-a13e-3ca35c02fed6 |
‘Trump Gaza is finally here!’: US president promotes Gaza plan in AI video | Mick Krever, Mostafa Salem | US President Donald Trump posted a video on his Truth Social account late on Tuesday, which appears to have been created with generative AI, promoting the transformation of Gaza into a Gulf state-like resort featuring a golden statue of himself, a hummus-eating Elon Musk, and shirtless American and Israeli leaders lounging on a beach.
“No more tunnels, no more fear,” a voice sings over a dance beat. “Trump Gaza is finally here!”
The American president has proposed expelling 2.1 million Palestinians from Gaza and transforming the enclave into a “Riviera” that would be owned by the United States.
The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority has called that proposal a “serious violation of international law.” The PA foreign minister, Varsen Aghabekian Shaheen, said earlier this month: “We have tried displacement before, and it will not happen again,” referring to the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced during the Arab-Israeli war that led to the creation of Israel in 1948.
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The video opens on barefoot Palestinian children walking through Gazan rubble. “What’s next?” a title card asks. They walk towards a skyline of skyscrapers lining Gaza’s coast.
“Donald’s coming to set you free,” a voice sings. “Trump Gaza shining bright. Golden future, a brand-new light. Feast and dance. The deed is done.”
The video, incongruously, features bearded and bikini-clad belly dancers, a child holding a golden balloon in the shape of Trump’s head, and Elon Musk dancing on a beach under a shower of US dollars.
As the Truth Social video ends, the camera pushes in on Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sipping drinks on a beach.
CNN has asked the White House for clarification.
In a statement, Gaza’s Hamas-run Government Media Office denounced the video as “disgraceful.”
“This video and its degrading content reflect the deeply rooted racist colonial mindset that seeks to distort reality and justify the occupation’s crimes,” said director-general Ismail Al-Thawabtah. “By portraying Gaza as if it were a land without a people, this desperate attempt aims to legitimize the ongoing ethnic cleansing carried out by the Israeli occupation with clear American support.”
It is unclear whether Trump intends to carry through on his expulsion plan. After receiving forceful pushback from Egyptian and Jordanian leaders, Trump told Fox News on Friday: “The way to do it is my plan. I think that’s the plan that really works. But I’m not forcing it. I’m just going to sit back and recommend it.”
Reacting to the video on Wednesday, Wassel Abu Yousuf, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)’s executive committee, told CNN that the video was “a clowning gimmick and nothing more than that.”
“There will not be resorts or Middle East riviera or anything else,” he said. “What Trump wants to do should be done somewhere else, but not on the backs of the Palestinian people. This is the land of our ancestors and parents, and a lot of blood has been shed to defend it.”
A CNN poll conducted by telephone and online in mid-February found that the proposal for Gaza with no right of return for Palestinians was the least popular Trump action or proposal asked about. Only 13% of Americans in the poll called it a “good thing,” while 58% described it as a “bad thing.”
Arab leaders met in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Friday for the first time to formulate a response to Trump’s plan for Gaza. The leaders are set to meet in Cairo on March 4 to discuss the plan and will likely present it to Trump at a later date.
A senior United Arab Emirates official said Wednesday that there needs to be a “bold” plan to reconstruct the territory, but said any plan cannot take place without a clear path to a Palestinian state.
The UAE has conducted preliminary discussions about the possibility of playing a role in postwar efforts to rebuild Gaza, but has said that its conditions, including a reformed Palestinian Authority and an Israeli commitment to Palestinian statehood, have not yet been met.
Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected the prospects of an independent Palestinian state and has endorsed Trump’s Gaza ownership plan.
“The conclusion is we need a bold plan of reconstruction but that plan of reconstruction must ensure that we don’t go back to a situation of conflict and to do that we have to have a clear path where the Palestinians actually have a state,” the UAE’s diplomatic adviser to the president Anwar Gargash told CNN’s Becky Anderson at an investment conference in Abu Dhabi.
Egypt, one of the countries Trump suggested should take in Gazans, has led the Arab effort to formulate an alternative plan for the enclave, which its prime minister has claimed would take three years to complete and cost $20 billion.
Asked by CNN whether Egypt, as a major recipient of US aid, feels coerced by Trump to accept his plan, Hassan El Khatib, the Egyptian minister of investment, said: “The right for the Palestinians to live on their own land is a principle… No we’re not going to take pressure on this.”
CNN’s Kareem Khadder contributed to this report.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the timing of Trump’s post. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/world/trump-promotes-gaza-plan-ai-video-intl/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 64ff5442-c7fd-5653-9d14-8dd36356e831 |
Zelensky calls US-Ukraine minerals deal a ‘framework’ as it emerges agreement has no security guarantees | Daria Tarasova-Markina, Svitlana Vlasova, Gul Tuysuz, Nick Paton Walsh, Christian Edwards | Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says a proposed deal with the United States on natural resources is a “framework,” and he will want to discuss the countries’ relationship further in person with President Donald Trump, as a draft of the text obtained by CNN shows it does not provide Kyiv explicit security guarantees.
With Trump bent on bringing Russia’s war to a swift end and recouping some of Washington’s financial aid to Kyiv, Zelensky is hoping that the natural resources deal can secure the US president’s future support, as well as security guarantees for Ukraine.
But the draft of the text seen by CNN, current as of Wednesday morning, said only that the United States “supports Ukraine’s efforts to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace,” without making explicit commitments.
At a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky conceded that the deal does not have “concrete steps on security guarantees” because these need to be decided jointly with the US and Europe.
The Ukrainian president said that the deal could be a “big success,” but emphasized that it only provides a “framework” that can be “part of future security guarantees,” which he hopes to discuss during his anticipated meeting with Trump. CNN reported Tuesday that the US and Ukraine agreed terms on the deal and Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington, DC, in the coming days, according to a Ukrainian official.
The full text of the deal, obtained by CNN, outlined the two countries’ plan to establish a jointly managed “Reconstruction Investment Fund.”
Under the deal, which has spaces for the signatures of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine will contribute to the fund 50% of all revenues earned from the future monetization of state-owned natural resources assets, including hydrocarbons, oil, and natural gas, as well as rare earth minerals.
“For the avoidance of doubt, such future sources of revenues do not include the current sources of revenues which are already part of the general budget revenues of Ukraine,” the draft text reads.
The fund will aim to “attract investments to increase the development, processing, and monetization of all public and private Ukrainian assets,” including its oil and gas and rare earth sectors, the draft text said.
The fund will be managed by representatives of the United States and Ukraine, and “more detailed terms pertaining to the Fund’s governance and operation will be set forth in a subsequent agreement” to be negotiated after the initial deal is signed, according to the draft.
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Many Ukrainians have been unsettled by reports that Kyiv is set to grant Washington access to Ukraine’s natural resources, while the Trump administration has been vague about what it will offer in return.
Oleksandra Zdorenko, a pensioner, told CNN Ukrainians were “outraged” when the US first proposed the deal, demanding a $500 billion share of Ukraine’s rare earths and other minerals, which Zelensky rejected, saying this would amount to “selling” his country.
“We didn’t understand how they could even offer us such a deal. Now it seems to me that some of the conditions have changed,” Zdorenko said. “I fully trust our government and our president. So much has already been done for Ukraine that they will not do anything to harm it now.”
At a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Zelensky would not sign “or even consider any enslaving or colonial treaties that would not take into account the interests” of Ukraine, saying that the draft agreement lays the foundation for Ukraine’s “future recovery.”
Zelensky also said in the press conference that Ukraine will not repay money given to it by the US as part of the natural resources deal.
“I will not accept [even] 10 cents of debt repayment in this deal. Otherwise, it will be a precedent,” he said Wednesday.
Trump had said over the weekend that he is “trying to get the money back” that the Biden administration had given to Ukraine to help it repel Russia’s invasion. Trump falsely claimed that the US has given Ukraine $350 billion since February 2022. The actual figure is around $120 billion, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Trump also falsely claimed that Europe’s support for Ukraine was “in the form of a loan.”
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“They get their money back. We gave it in the form of nothing. So I want them to give us something for all of the money that we’ve put up,” Trump said, saying the US had been made to feel “stupid.”
When Trump repeated this claim during talks with Emmanuel Macron on Monday, the French president grabbed Trump’s arm to correct him.
“No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60% of the total effort. It was like the US: loans, guarantees, grants,” Macron said.
Speaking Wednesday, Zelensky said Ukraine remained “grateful” for US support, but that he will be “very direct” and ask Trump “if the United States will stop support [for Ukraine] or not.”
If the US does not provide more aid, Zelensky said Ukraine could “buy weapons directly” from the US, suggesting that frozen Russian assets – amounting to some $300 billion – could be used to fund the purchases. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/europe/ukraine-us-zelensky-trump-rare-earth-security-intl/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 42b1b6d7-785b-5bd4-a9ce-7140c94a000e |
‘World’s best’ coffee shop for 2025 named | John Liu | It’s official: Sydney has the world’s best coffee shop.
At least that’s what a new list ranking top cafés globally found, with the Australian city beating out perennial rival Melbourne for the top spot.
Sydney-based Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters was crowned the best coffee shop in the world, followed by Onyx Coffee Lab of Arkansas, Gota Coffee Experts of Vienna, Austria, Proud Mary Coffee of Melbourne and Tim Wendelboe of Oslo, Norway.
The top 10 coffee shops also hailed from Singapore, France, Malaysia and Colombia.
Cafés worldwide were judged on a variety of factors, ranging from quality of coffee and food, sustainability practices and customer service, according to the ranking’s website. Both public opinions and experts’ evaluation were taken into account to reach the final selection, according to the “World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops.”
Jody Leslie, general manager for Toby’s Estate, told CNN Travel that her whole team was “completely stoked” when they learned about the result.
“We’ve been in the coffee game a long time and we know what we do is amazing and we try very hard to be consistent and so to be recognized like this is just amazing,” she said.
Its flagship shop, located in Sydney’s southwest Chippendale neighborhood, earned the recognition, but it has branches across Australia and Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia and the Middle East.
Leslie said sales have surged since the announcement, attracting more visitors eager to try her team’s coffee. To thank customers for their support, Toby’s Estate will host a free coffee day on February 27.
The Toby’s Estate flagship shop features a brew bar where coffee is made in front of customers and a roastery on-site, roasting fresh beans daily.
The coffee chain began in 1997, when lawyer Toby Smith started the business from his mother’s garage in Woolloomooloo, a harborside eastern suburb of Sydney.
Arkansas-based Onyx Coffee Lab ranked second. The company has three branches in Bentonville, Fayetteville, and Springdale, but it wasn’t clear which made the list. Vienna’s Gota Coffee, ranked third, also took to social media to express gratitude for the recognition.
“We are honored to share this award with not only the top 100 shops around the world mentioned but all the cafes throughout the industry who get up each morning to offer the best hospitality and service to their guests,” Onyx Coffee Lab posted on its Instagram.
“This journey has been fueled by passion, precision, and the incredible support of our coffee-loving community,” Gota Coffee posted on its Instagram. “Here’s to pushing the boundaries of coffee culture, one brew at a time!”
Australia’s second largest city ranks among the world’s best for coffee, but there’s something else Melburnians queue up for each morning.
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Australia’s cafe scene is famed for its cool vibes and the competitive spirit of baristas chasing the perfect brew.
Australian cafés have popped up in major cities worldwide, offering up avocado toast and flat whites — both of which originated in the country (though many New Zealanders dispute the flat white’s origin).
Within Australia, a long-standing rivalry exists between Sydney and Melbourne – not least over which city brews the better cup of joe.
Melbourne has traditionally been regarded as the country’s coffee capital — with a coffee history that dates back to the post-World War II era, when Italian immigrants brought their espresso machines and café traditions to the city.
In recent years, Sydney’s coffee scene has punched above its weight, bruising the pride of Melbourne fans. The Harbor City overtook Melbourne last year in a list of the top 10 best cities worldwide for coffee, published by American magazine Food & Wine. Sydney took home the number three spot, while Melbourne landed at number 10.
The magazine named Melbourne’s Proud Mary a “standout” café, which also ranked fourth on the world’s 100 best coffee shop list.
That wasn’t the only blow to Melbourne’s coffee reputation. In 2023, Australian travel site Wotif.com awarded the title of “best flat white” to The Cupping Room in the national capital of Canberra, despite calling Melbourne the “unofficial coffee capital of the world.”
If there’s one thing the lists can agree on, it’s that Australia wins.
“I think our win is a win for the country. Australian coffee is, I think, the best in the world and so it doesn’t come down to Sydney and Melbourne,” said Leslie of Toby’s Estate. “We want to be strong as a country, and that helps everyone.” | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/travel/worlds-best-coffee-shop-sydney-australia-intl-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 8491bd92-1c78-5b49-a560-ad386a75ee89 |
Taiwan detains Chinese-crewed ship suspected of cutting undersea cable | Wayne Chang | Taiwan’s coast guard detained a cargo ship and its Chinese crew on Tuesday and said it was investigating whether the vessel had deliberately cut an undersea internet cable, in the latest possible damage to the island’s communication lines.
The Togo-flagged vessel suspected of damaging the cable – which connected Taiwan to its outlying Penghu Islands – was crewed by eight Chinese nationals, Taiwan’s coast guard said in a statement.
The Hong Tai had been lingering near the cable in waters off the southwestern coast of Taiwan since Saturday evening and did not respond to multiple broadcasts from Taiwan’s coast guard, the statement added.
Shortly after the ship dropped anchor in the early hours of Tuesday, Taiwan’s telecom company Chunghwa Telecom detected that the cable had been disconnected.
The coast guard said it intercepted and boarded the vessel, before escorting it back to a port in the city of Tainan for investigation.
Taiwanese authorities said they could not rule out the possibility of a Chinese “gray zone operation,” a coercive or subversive act that falls below the threshold of war.
“Whether it was an intentional act of sabotage or purely an accident needs to be further probed,” the coast guard said in the statement, adding that the matter is now under investigation by prosecutors “in accordance with national security-level guidance.”
Beijing accused Taipei of “manipulating” the incident for political purposes.
Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told reporters in Beijing on Wednesday that damage to undersea cables was a “common maritime accident” that occurred more than 100 times a year worldwide.
“While the basic facts and the liability for the accident have not yet been clarified, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have deliberately exaggerated the situation in an attempt at political manipulation, which will not enjoy popular support,” Zhu added, referring to Taiwan’s ruling party.
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In recent years, multiple undersea telecoms cables around Taiwan have suffered suspicious damage.
In January, Taiwanese authorities said a Chinese-linked cargo vessel could have cut an international undersea cable off the island’s northern coast.
In 2023, Taiwan officials blamed Chinese ships for two incidents in which cables connecting Taiwan’s main island to its outlying islands of Matsu were damaged, causing an internet blackout. They stopped short of saying the acts were deliberate.
The incidents have raised concerns among Taiwan authorities of “gray zone” activities that could hamper the island’s internet connectivity and communications with the outside world.
Those concerns come as Taiwan has faced increasing intimidation from Beijing, which claims the self-ruled democracy as its own territory and has vowed to take control of it, by force if necessary.
They also follow a string of incidents in recent years of damage to undersea infrastructure worldwide, including communications cables. Two high-profile incidents in the Baltic Sea involved Chinese ships and remain under investigation.
According to NATO chief Mark Rutte, more than 95% of internet traffic globally is carried via undersea cables, with some 1.3 million kilometers of such cabling securing an estimated $10 trillion dollars of international trade daily. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/asia/taiwan-detains-ship-undersea-cable-intl-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-25 | efa87313-8b1c-5ed3-ac76-9159da722418 |
The week in 31 photos | Laura Oliverio | It was a terrifying scene Monday when a passenger plane crashed, turned upside down and caught fire while attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
But all 80 people on the plane survived. Twenty-one of them were taken to hospitals with injuries, officials said, and by Thursday morning all had been released, according to Delta Air Lines.
The crash happened on a gusty day following heavy snowfall. On Tuesday afternoon, a senior investigator with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it was “far too early to say what the cause of this accident might be.”
The harrowing incident briefly halted traffic at Canada’s busiest airport, and it was the fourth major aviation accident in North America in the past month. It happened three weeks after an American Airlines plane collided midair with a US Army helicopter in Washington, DC, killing all 67 people aboard.
Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/20/world/gallery/photos-this-week-february-13-february-20/index.html | 2025-02-20 | 2f9dec4c-6c6f-5db2-b5cf-379b9b087eb0 |
What we do and don’t know about Trump’s ‘very big deal’ on Ukraine’s mineral resources | Ivana Kottasová | The United States and Ukraine are trying to hammer out a natural resources agreement that would give Washington access to Kyiv’s untapped mineral riches in exchange for investment and what Ukraine hopes would be concrete security guarantees.
While US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that a deal has been made and that he was “happy” about it, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has been more cautious, saying the agreement could be a “big success” - but that it depended on Trump.
A draft of the deal seen by CNN was scant on details and did not include any firm security guarantees for Kyiv.
Here is what we know – and don’t know – about the agreement.
The draft agreement seeks the establishment of a “reconstruction investment fund” that would be jointly managed by the US and Ukrainian governments.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Wednesday that Kyiv would be funneling half of the revenues from future state-owned natural resources projects into the fund, with money being reinvested in more developments.
Shmyhal stressed the deal would exclude existing “deposits, facilities, licenses and royalties” tied to Ukraine’s natural resources.
“We are only talking about future licenses, developments and infrastructure,” he said.
The draft agreement goes beyond just minerals and rare earths. It spans Ukraine’s other natural resources, including oil and gas, as well as any infrastructure connected to the sectors, such as ports or LNG terminals.
Trump said at the weekend that he’s “trying to get the money back,” referring to the aid provided to Ukraine under the previous administration.
The US initially demanded a $500 billion share of Ukraine’s rare earths and other minerals in exchange for the aid it has already provided to Kyiv. But Zelensky rejected that idea, saying that agreeing to it would amount to “selling” his country. Trump subsequently called Zelensky “a dictator.”
Zelensky also said that the US was demanding that any future aid would have to be repaid with double the amount: two dollars for every dollar provided. “We’ll need to return $50 billion, but we’ll need to return it with one-to-two ratio. So, we’ll need to return it with 100% loan interest,” he said, adding that he wouldn’t sign a deal that means the next 10 generations of Ukrainians will be indebted.
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Asked on Tuesday what Ukraine would receive in the mineral deal, Trump said: “$350 billion and lots of equipment, military equipment, and the right to fight on,” repeating a false claim he has made in the past. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank that closely tracks wartime aid to Ukraine, Washington had committed a total of about $124 billion in aid to Ukraine.
The draft seen by CNN remains vague on whether any money from the fund would be paid to the US. It says that revenues will be reinvested “at last annually to promote the safety, security and prosperity of Ukraine,” but adds that it “will also provide for future distributions.”
The draft does not include any concrete figures or details on the size of the stake the US would hold in the fund.
Trump on Wednesday projected confidence that the natural resources deal would come to fruition, saying, “we’ve been able to make a deal where we’re going to get our money back and we’re going to get a lot of money in the future, and I think that’s appropriate.”
“We’re doing very well with Russia-Ukraine. President Zelensky is going to be coming on Friday. It’s now confirmed, and we’re going to be signing an agreement.” Kyiv confirmed Zelensky would meet Trump on Friday.
However, Zelensky said his country will not be repaying money given to it by Washington in the past as part of the deal. “I will not accept (even) 10 cents of debt repayment in this deal. Otherwise, it will be a precedent,” Zelensky said Wednesday at a news conference in Kyiv.
On security guarantees, Trump has said “we’ll be looking to” future security for Ukraine “later on.”
Ukraine’s mineral riches have long been eyed by its allies – and Kyiv has made them part of its appeal for support. Zelensky has made it clear he wants security guarantees to be part of the deal.
Some deposits are already in areas that are under Russian occupation and Zelensky has argued that one reason why the West should support Ukraine in its fight against Moscow is to prevent more of these strategically important resources from falling into the Kremlin’s hands.
“The deposits of critical resources in Ukraine, along with Ukraine’s globally important energy and food production potential, are among the key predatory objectives of the Russian Federation in this war. And this is our opportunity for growth,” Zelensky said in October when presenting his “Victory plan.”
Nataliya Katser-Buchkovska, the co-founder of the Ukrainian Sustainable Investment Fund, said that a deal cannot work without security guarantees.
“(For) the US to get access to these deposits, Ukraine must regain control over those territories, demine and rebuild the infrastructure,” she said.
While the draft deal seen by CNN does not specify any security guarantees, it does say that the US “supports Ukraine’s efforts to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace.”
Materials such as graphite, lithium, uranium and the 17 chemical elements known as rare earths are critical for economic growth and national security.
They are essential to the production of electronics, clean energy technology, including wind turbines, energy networks and electric vehicles, as well as some weapons systems.
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The US largely depends on imports for the minerals it needs, many of which come from China, which has long dominated the market.
China is responsible for nearly 90% of global processing of rare earth minerals, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). On top of that, China is also the world’s largest producer of graphite and titanium, and a major processor of lithium.
Experts have long warned that relying on China for strategic materials is risky, but the latest trade tensions between Washington and Beijing make it even more important for the US to look for alternative suppliers.
The US isn’t the only one eyeing Ukraine’s resources. The European Union signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine in 2021 outlining future investment opportunities in mineral mining.
A similar document was prepared under the Biden administration last year. It said the US would promote investment opportunities in Ukraine’s mining projects to American companies in exchange for Kyiv creating economic incentives and implementing good business and environmental practices.
Trump has repeatedly referred to the deal as one on “rare earths” but it’s likely he was speaking more widely about critical minerals.
Ukraine doesn’t have globally significant reserves of rare earth minerals, but it does have some of the world’s largest deposits of graphite, lithium, titanium, beryllium and uranium, all of which are classed by the US as critical minerals.
But while Ukraine does have large reserves of these minerals, little has been done to develop the sector. Given the huge strain Russia’s unprovoked aggression has put on the Ukrainian economy, it is unlikely that Kyiv would be able to extract these resources without foreign investment.
“Most projects remain in the exploration phase, with no large-scale processing facilities in place,” said Katser-Buchkovska, who served as a member of the Ukrainian Parliament from 2014 to 2019 and was the head of a parliamentary committee on energy security and transition.
“Extracting rare minerals will be extremely expensive and will require years (and) billions of upfront investments, infrastructure development, and workforce training before production can even begin,” she said, adding that Ukraine’s resource extraction sector remains underdeveloped because of outdated infrastructure, war-related damage and lack of investment.
Trump’s return to the White House has resulted in a major shift in policy towards Russia.
US and Russian officials meet in Saudi Arabia earlier this month to discuss the end of the war in Ukraine – without inviting Kyiv or any of its European allies to take part.
Trump said on Monday that he was in “serious discussions” with Russia about ending the war and was “trying to do some economic development deals” with Moscow, noting its “massive rare earth” deposits.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Moscow was ready to work with American companies to mine rare earth mineral deposits in both Russia, and parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine.
“Russia is one of the leading countries when it comes to rare metal reserves. By the way, as for new territories, we are also ready to attract foreign partners – there are certain reserves there too,” Putin said in an interview with Russian state media, referring to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.
CNN’s Victoria Butenko, Nick Paton Walsh and Gul Tuysuz, Christian Edwards, Svitlana Vlasova, Dariya Tarasova-Markina, Lauren Kent, Betsy Klein, Michael Williams contributed to this report. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/europe/ukraine-us-mineral-resources-deal-explained-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 2fffc4b3-62f0-5f9e-9f0f-e165623fa337 |
Tipsy tourist fined $520 after diving into Rome’s Trevi Fountain | Unknown | For travel tips, recipes and more insight on Italian culture, sign up for CNN’s Unlocking Italy newsletter. This eight-part guide will have you packing your bags in no time.
Tourists-behaving-badly season seems to have started early in Rome this year, with three visitors from New Zealand getting in trouble long before the summer sunshine could be blamed for giddy behavior.
The trio were stopped Sunday night as they started to wade into the famous Trevi Fountain in central Rome, a frequent magnet for trouble when peak season crowds start to gather in the city.
As they were being escorted away from the area, one of the tourists, a 30-year-old man, wrestled free from the police and jumped into the fountain as the authorities gave chase, a spokesperson for Rome’s Capital Police told CNN.
“Alcohol was definitely involved,” the spokesperson added.
He was fined 500 euros (around $524) and banned from visiting the Baroque landmark for life.
The Trevi Fountain, constructed in 1762 as the mouth of an aqueduct, underwent a $330,000 cleaning in 2024, during which it was drained so workers could repair marble chipped from the millions of coins thrown into the water each year.
Taking a dip in the fountain has been an aspiration for many tourists, inspired by Federico Fellini’s 1960 film “La Dolce Vita,” during which Anita Ekberg waded into the waters in an evening gown, purring to her paramour, played by Marcello Mastroianni, to join her.
About a dozen tourists are fined for dipping everything from their toes to water bottles into the fountain each year, according to Roman police.
A greater number of would-be thieves are stopped for trying to steal some of the 1.5 million euros worth of coins that are thrown into the water each year. The money, which goes to charity, is collected daily.
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In 2024, the city introduced a system to limit the number of visitors in front of the fountain to 400 at a time. The access area is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and the city is considering introducing a small fee to enter.
The New Zealander bypassed the controlled area and entered the fountain by scrambling over the marble sculptures that line the basin.
Like what you’ve just read? Here is more of our recent travel news, from railway ambitions in Europe, China and the Middle East, to the delicious foods that Sweden does better than anywhere else.
Adding Britain to your European rail vacation could get a little easier in the future.
London St. Pancras, the United Kingdom’s only international train station, is working with the Channel Tunnel on opening up more services to France and planning new routes to Germany and Switzerland.
The aim is to shorten journey times, improve timetable coordination and introduce a larger rail fleet. St. Pancras also plans to expand peak-time capacity for international passengers from 1,800 per hour to 5,000.
In other rail news from around the world, China is hoping its new fleet of “silver trains” will encourage the up-in-years portion of its aging population to travel more and spend more. The trains will be fitted out with senior-friendly features such as handrails, oxygen bottles and emergency call buttons.
From silver to gold: The Middle East’s first super-luxury train, Saudi Arabia’s Dream of the Desert, will launch in fall 2026. Its gleaming golden interiors are designed to complement the sandy expanses outside.
Nordic cuisine is having a moment, but there’s a lot more to Swedish food than meatballs and cinnamon buns. From sandwich cake to Västerbotten cheese pie, here are the dishes to try if you’re visiting the Scandinavian nation.
In South America, there’s a food revolution going on in Bolivia, where elite restaurants are getting international notice and ancient Inca and Aymara traditions are finding their way into modern fusion dishes.
In the 15th century, Beijing’s Forbidden City was one of the most powerful places on the planet but governed by extreme secrecy. Even now, details are still emerging about what they feasted on in the royal household, from tiger testicles to bird’s nest soup.
Visitors to New York’s Center for Jewish History can tour a full-scale recreation of the secret annex where diarist Anne Frank hid from the Nazis in wartime Amsterdam. Originally set to end on April 30, the exhibit has proved so popular that it’s been extended until October 31. CNN visited the Manhattan exhibit.
A 1,000-year-old French masterpiece is about to disappear from view for two years. Visitors will get their last chance to see the Bayeux Tapestry, an illustrated embroidery telling the story of the 11th-century Norman conquest of England, on August 31, before the Bayeux museum undergoes a major renovation.
Istanbul’s Maiden Tower, which sits on a tiny island between Europe and Asia, has reopened to the public after it too had a huge facelift. Here’s what it was like when CNN had a look around at the end of last year.
Mongolian couple Buyanaa and Yuk are traditional nomads and digital nomads. Their posts documenting their lives on the steppe have gotten millions of video views online.
If the pair’s cozy headgear has you envious, then it might be time to invest in a new winter hat. Our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have a roundup of the best noggin-warmers for 2025.
A winter wonderland decorated with cotton wool and bedsheets disappointed visitors.
It’s snow joke.
An American spent thousands of dollars on a passport to enter North Korea.
Here’s what he discovered there.
Adventurer Tom Turcich spent seven years walking around the world.
But his biggest challenge was being back home.
Moo Deng and Pesto became internet celebrities.
What happens when cute baby animals grow up? | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/travel/new-zealand-tourist-fined-trevi-fountain-dive/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 57d589e0-1efd-509e-b1bf-35cc555ea747 |
Taiwan says China set up ‘live-fire training’ zone off its coast without warning | Wayne Chang, Nectar Gan | China’s military has set up a zone for “live-fire training” about 46 miles (74 kilometers) off the southwestern coast of Taiwan without advance notice, the island’s defense ministry said on Wednesday, condemning the move as provocative and a threat to international navigation.
It comes a day after Taiwan’s coast guard detained a Chinese-crewed cargo ship suspected of cutting an undersea cable in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said it detected 32 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait starting shortly before 9 a.m. on Wednesday (8 p.m. Tuesday ET). It added that 22 of those aircraft flew near the north and southwest of the island and carried out a “joint combat readiness patrol” with Chinese warships, according to the statement.
“During this period, (China) blatantly violated international norms by unilaterally designating a drill zone approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Kaohsiung and Pingtung without prior warning, claiming it would conduct ‘live-fire training,’” the ministry said, adding that it “strongly condemns” these actions.
Kaohsiung, a strategic commercial hub for Taiwan, is home to the island’s largest and busiest port.
There was no immediate comment from Beijing on the Taiwan statement. China’s Foreign Ministry did not comment on it when asked at a regular news conference Wednesday, saying it’s “not a diplomatic issue.” CNN has reached out to China’s defense ministry for comment.
China’s ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as its territory, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to take the self-governing democracy by force if necessary. Under Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Beijing has significantly ramped up military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said China declared the drill zone within international shipping lanes via temporary radio broadcasts, posing “a severe threat to the safety of international aviation and maritime navigation.”
“This is a blatant provocation against regional security and stability,” the ministry added.
The ministry said that the Chinese military’s recent activities, including live-fire drills near Australia, showed that “China has become the primary and greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region.”
In an unprecedented show of firepower, the Chinese Navy conducted two live-fire exercises in waters between Australia and New Zealand last week, forcing dozens of flights to be diverted and raising alarm in both countries. Officials there said while the drills did not violate international law, Beijing could have given more notice.
Australian officials said they learned about the drills via an alert from a commercial pilot, who noticed a message broadcast by the Chinese on an emergency radio channel. China insisted it issued safety notices in advance and slammed Australia for “hyping up” the situation.
China’s latest military activity near Taiwan came as Beijing accused Taipei of “political manipulation” over the disconnected undersea cable, in the latest damage to the island’s communication lines.
“While the basic facts and the liability for the accident have not yet been clarified, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have deliberately exaggerated the situation in an attempt at political manipulation, which will not enjoy popular support,” Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told reporters in Beijing on Wednesday.
The Togo-flagged vessel suspected of damaging the cable – which connected Taiwan to its outlying Penghu Islands – was crewed by eight Chinese nationals, Taiwan’s coast guard said.
It had been lingering near the cable since Saturday night and dropped anchor shortly before the cable’s disconnection was detected on Tuesday, the coast guard said.
Taiwanese authorities said they could not rule out the possibility of a Chinese “gray zone operation” - a coercive or subversive act that falls below the threshold of war.
In recent years, multiple undersea telecoms cables around Taiwan have suffered suspicious damage, raising concerns among Taiwan authorities that the island’s internet connectivity and communications with the outside world could be hampered during a potential blockade or invasion by China’s military. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/asia/taiwan-china-live-fire-drill-zone-intl-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 61a945a3-2e43-5224-9833-a921f2d031a2 |
Brother of Hamas hostage describes psychological ‘torture’ of waiting for his release | Austin Mabeus | CNN's Anderson Cooper speaks with the brothers of Hamas hostages Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal about efforts to secure their release.
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/world/video/hamas-hostage-brothers-israel-ac360-digvid | 2025-02-25 | 2ff814da-3444-5675-88a2-ae12b2995f92 |
‘Imagine your worst nightmare’: Brother of former Israeli hostage tells CNN about the conditions in Gaza | Zachary Wasser | Michael Levy, the brother of Or Levy — an Israeli hostage recently released from Gaza — speaks to CNN's Jeremy Diamond about his brother's experience being held hostage by Hamas for 491 days. In a statement to CNN, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the group “dealt with the prisoners in accordance with international law” and had “provided them with food at a time when there was a famine in the Strip.”
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/world/video/israeli-hostage-gaza-jeremy-diamond-digvid | 2025-02-26 | 96a34ee2-0ff0-558f-b02d-123bbf21ee8b |
Sony World Photography Awards 2025: The year’s best images unveiled | Oscar Holland | A female skater in India, a park ranger transporting Congolese crocodiles and a taxidermist preparing a deceased wolf for display are among the subjects of the past year’s best images, according to judges of the Sony World Photography Awards.
On Tuesday, the World Photography Organisation unveiled the shortlisted entries and finalists in its annual competition’s 10 professional categories.
In each of the categories — which span landscape, still life, sport and the environment, among others — judges selected three finalists and up to seven shortlisted photographers. In April, organizers will hand the prestigious Photographer of the Year title, as well as a $25,000 cash prize and a range of Sony equipment, to one of the 30 finalists.
In a press statement, jury chair Monica Allende said this year’s shortlist and finalists showed “great originality and clarity of vision.”
“From narratives of community-building, to explorations of collective memory, to empowering stories of people challenging conventions, these works offer a diversity of perspectives on our moment in history,” she added.
Now in its 18th year, the Sony World Photography Awards also include student and youth contests, as well as “open” categories for non-professionals. Organizers say they received almost 420,000 entries across this year’s various competitions.
Scroll down to see images from the Sony World Photography Awards professional competition. A selection of photos will be on show at Somerset House in London from April 17 to May 5, 2025. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/style/sony-world-photography-awards-professional-2025/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 562c1088-a5e8-5ff6-b8ac-d9c932befd6c |
Chinese-crewed cargo ship suspected of cutting undersea cable detained in Taiwan | Aria Chen | Taiwan’s coast guard detained a cargo ship and its Chinese crew on Tuesday. The vessel is suspected of damaging the cable connecting Taiwan to its outlying Penghu Islands, Taiwan’s coast guard said in a statement. CNN's Will Ripley reports.
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/world/video/taiwan-detain-chinese-crewed-ship-undersea-cable-digvid | 2025-02-25 | 63be8c41-2928-53a1-9324-5a55794b622b |
Britain ramps up defense spending and cuts foreign aid, ahead of PM Starmer’s crucial meeting with Trump | Rob Picheta | Britain will accelerate an increase to its defense spending, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday, on the eve of a crucial visit to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington that is set to be dominated by the future of the war in Ukraine.
Starmer said he will raise military spending from 2.3% of Britain’s GDP to 2.5% by 2027, and then again to 2.6% the following year, as a rift opens up between Trump and Europe over the future of the conflict.
But he will fund the rise by cutting Britain’s already depleted foreign aid budget, which will now fall to just 0.3% of the country’s GDP.
“This government will begin the biggest sustained increase in defense spending since the end of the Cold War,” Starmer told parliament as he laid out the plans. The rise had felt increasingly inevitable in recent weeks, but the speed of the uplift and the timing of the announcement – just before Starmer flies to Washington – was a surprise.
“We must reject any false choice between our allies. Between one side of the Atlantic or the other. That is against our history, country and party,” Starmer told members of parliament. He called Britain’s relationship with America his country’s “most important bilateral alliance,” and said: “This week when I meet President Trump, I will be clear: I want this relationship to go from strength to strength.”
Starmer also set an ambition to hike defense spending to 3% in the next parliament, which will begin in 2029 at the latest after the next general election, and will last for up to five years. That final target would depend on the fiscal conditions at the time, Starmer said.
Trump has urged NATO countries to raise their defense spending to 5% and made clear that the US will not work to maintain Europe’s security in the future. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth quickly praised the move, calling it a “strong step from an enduring partner.”
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At a news conference held by Starmer later on Tuesday, Starmer told reporters that the increase in defense spending was “three years in the making,” referencing Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. But he admitted the decision was “accelerated” by events of recent weeks, during which Trump has started negotiations over the war in Ukraine with Russia – but without Kyiv – and has made clear he will not work to maintain Europe’s security. “President Trump thinks we should do more, and I agree with him. It chimes with my thinking on this,” Starmer said.
“This is very much my decision, based on my assessment of the circumstances that we face as a country, and it is taken first and foremost to ensure that the United Kingdom and its citizens are safe and secure,” Starmer added.
Britain’s previous Conservative government set a goal to reach the 2.5% target on defense spending by 2030. After winning a general election last year, Starmer maintained the goal, but refused to set a timeline on when it would be achieved.
“Courage is what our own era now demands of us,” Starmer told MPs as he announced the new timeframe. But while the increase was welcomed in Washington and within Britain’s defense community, it will not be enough to fully modernize a military that has suffered a drop in troop numbers, equipment and overall combat readiness during the 21st century.
The increase in defense spending will be funded in part through a cut to international development spending, which will now fall from 0.5% of Britain’s GDP to 0.3% in the coming years, Starmer said. “That is not an announcement I am happy to make,” he said, adding the defense increase “can only be funded through hard choices.”
Britain’s foreign aid budget stood at 0.7% just a few years ago, but has now been used by leaders of both major parties to help fund other expenditures.
There were pockets of disquiet within Starmer’s own party about the decision. “It is the wrong approach on so many levels,” one Labour MP, speaking anonymously in order to freely discuss their views, told CNN. The MP said Starmer was “following the US” on reducing overseas aid – it comes as the USAID agency is gutted in Washington – and said Britain’s development funding “is a vital strand of our overseas work to build long term security.”
And the move was met with dismay by some of the charities and organizations who have relied on government funding. WaterAid, a charity focused on providing clean water and water systems to those in need, called the move a “cruel betrayal of people living in poverty globally.”
And David Miliband, the President of the International Rescue Committee, said in a statement that “the global consequences of this decision will be far reaching and devastating for people who need more help not less.”
CNN’s Catherine Nicholls contributed to this article | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/uk/uk-defense-spending-increase-trump-intl/index.html | 2025-02-25 | c6a01232-d1a9-5db9-8207-0f04e180012c |
Fenerbahçe manager José Mourinho accused of making ‘racist statements’ by rival team | Ben Church | Fenerbahçe manager José Mourinho, one of the most recognizable names in soccer, has been accused of making “racist statements” by rival team Galatasaray, which plans to seek criminal charges against the world-renowned coach.
The accusation follows the teams’ heated 0-0 draw in the Turkish Süper Lig on Monday.
After the match, Mourinho heavily criticized the standard of Turkish referees and told reporters that Galatasaray’s bench had been “jumping like monkeys,” referring to the reaction of coaches and substitutes following an incident in the first half.
“Since the commencement of his managerial duties in Türkiye, Fenerbahçe manager Jose Mourinho has persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people. Today, his discourse has escalated beyond merely immoral comments into unequivocally inhumane rhetoric,” Galatasaray said Monday.
“We hereby formally declare our intention to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made by Jose Mourinho and shall accordingly submit official complaints to UEFA and FIFA.
“Furthermore, we shall diligently observe the stance adopted by Fenerbahçe – an institution professing to uphold ‘exemplary moral values’ – in response to the reprehensible conduct exhibited by their manager.”
Galatasaray later clarified to CNN that it was referring to Mourinho’s “jumping like monkeys” quote.
On Tuesday, though, Fenerbahçe said “a post-match remark” made by Mourinho was “deliberately taken entirely out of context and distorted in a misleading manner.”
“As any reasonable person can clearly recognize, the expression used by José Mourinho was solely intended to describe the excessive reaction of the opposing team’s technical staff to the referee’s decisions during the match. These remarks cannot, under any circumstances, be associated with racism,” the club said in a statement.
“Any attempt to portray this statement as a racist remark is completely malicious.We would like to inform the public that we will exercise our legal rights against this baseless accusation, which aims to take competition off the pitch, shift the agenda, and manipulate public perception.”
CNN has reached out to UEFA and FIFA for comment.
After the goalless draw in one of soccer’s fiercest rivalries, the Portuguese manager was yet again outspoken in his press conference.
Mourinho criticized Turkish referees and said it would be better to have foreign officials for every match. Monday’s game was refereed by Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić, who Mourinho praised.
“I went to the referee’s dressing room after the game, of course, the fourth official was there, a Turkish referee,” Mourinho said.
“I turned myself to the fourth official and I told him, ‘If you were a referee, this match would be a disaster.’”
On Wednesday, one of Mourinho’s former players, Didier Drogba, defended his ex-manager. Drogba played a pivotal part in Mourinho’s successful first stint at Chelsea between 2004-2007 and went on to represent Galatasaray later in his career.
“Trust me when I tell you I have known Jose for xx years and he is not a racist and history (past and recent ) is there to prove it,” Drogba wrote on X.
Mourinho joined Fenerbahçe in June last year and the team currently sits second in the league, six points behind Galatasaray.
It’s been a tumultuous season for the “Special One,” who in November was fined and suspended for one game after launching a tirade against Turkish soccer and its referees, per the Associated Press.
The 62-year-old is considered one of the best coaches of his generation, winning two Champions Leagues, two Europa Leagues, one Conference League and eight league titles after previously managing Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, Inter Milan and AS Roma, among others. | cnn_sports | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/sport/galatasaray-jose-mourinho-racist-statements-spt-intl/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 8743c986-5d34-5ae0-973d-96ab9eb7ad8d |
Spurned by the US, some migrants are returning to South America on boat | Michael Rios, José Álvarez, Elizabeth Gonzalez, Mauricio Torres | A growing number of Latin American migrants who have given up hope of reaching the United States are returning to their home countries in South America through a sea route in Panama, which poses new risks, according to authorities.
Instead of trekking through the treacherous Darien Jungle between North and South America – as thousands had done on their way to the United States – many migrants are now boarding small boats on Panama’s Caribbean coast, making their way toward Colombia by sea.
The uptick in boat journeys comes as the Trump administration has been enforcing strict policies to remove migrants from the US or limit their entry.
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But these boat rides to Colombia, which cover more than 100 nautical miles in a single day, can be dangerous. Last week, an eight-year-old girl from Venezuela died after the boat she was traveling on sank near the community of Mansucum, Panama, according to the country’s National Border Service, known as SENAFRONT.
The boat was one of three that had taken off from the Port of Llano Carti toward La Miel, Panama, near the border with Colombia. The other two boats suspended their journeys due to “adverse conditions” at sea, but the third continued despite the warnings and ultimately sank, authorities said.
Twenty migrants – mostly from Venezuela and Colombia – were rescued after Friday’s shipwreck, according to SENAFRONT.
The Panamanian foreign ministry said it regretted what happened and added that the country “reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation and respect for human rights, particularly in situations involving people in vulnerable conditions.”
These boat rides are happening in the Guna Yala indigenous territory of northeastern Panama.
Anelio Merry, a spokesperson for the Guna people, told CNN that in the past week, there has been a significant increase of migrants crossing through the region to reach Colombia.
On Sunday alone, at least 110 migrants sought boat rides from the ports of the Guna Yala region to the Colombian port town of Necoclí, Merry said.
It’s unclear how many migrants in total have been taking the reverse route. CNN has reached out to the Panamanian government and the UN’s refugee agency for comment.
The Guna community worry the reverse migration could strain their resources because they lack services and infrastructure to adequately provide care for migrants. In a statement shared Sunday, the community called on the Panama and US governments, “and international organizations to suspend the massive arrival of migrants to our territory.”
Panamanian Security Minister Frank Ábrego said Tuesday that the boat rides are happening “with the full knowledge” of authorities in the Guna Yala region. He said SENAFRONT has established departure points in non-populated parts of Guna Yala so migrants can make their way south.
“For example, the old airport in Ustupu, where no one lives, was used so that from there, the boats can go to La Miel, because we understand that traveling 111 nautical miles is not easy for any boat that does cabotage services between islands,” he said. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/americas/panama-reverse-migration-boats-colombia-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-25 | d8ac54de-3455-5cf1-b5b9-a883be85d2c6 |
A quiet London Fashion Week? Not if you know where to look | Kati Chitrakorn, Leah Dolan | Once home to visionaries such as Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, London Fashion Week has been synonymous with theatricality and boundary-pushing designs. But increased operational costs and other disruptions in the wake of Brexit, along with diminishing global interest in the city’s designers, whose shows garner a fraction of the attention of those in other fashion capitals like Milan, Paris and even New York, has hampered the mood in recent years.
At the event’s kickoff, the British Fashion Council’s outgoing CEO Caroline Rush addressed some of those difficulties in a speech that concluded her 16-year tenure. “London Fashion Week is about making meaningful connections… and cementing (designers’) place on the global stage,” she said. “These are challenging times, but this community is resilient — and as someone who has been there for a little while, I can tell you from experience that creativity is heightened even further when businesses face adversity.”
By the next season of shows in September, Rush’s successor, Laura Weir, will be well into the role (she joins in April), marking a new chapter for the sector. “Creativity, innovation, breaking boundaries… that is our role in the fashion industry and one that we are incredibly proud of,” Rush said, adding that London is fueled by “high-octane creativity that you see nowhere else in the world.”
Despite the transitional period, London Fashion Week brimmed with unabridged talent and creativity — from cult names, like Paolo Carzana and Dilara Findikoglu, to the fledgling labels (Louther, Nuba and Olly Shinder) showing as part of talent incubator Fashion East. All of which, in the absence of bigger, heavy-hitting brands, had more space to shine.
Showgoers held out for a late show by Findikoglu, who returned after a season off, with a collection of body-hugging styles, including a black snakeskin corset worn by supermodel Lara Stone, who opened the show. The venue Electrowerkz — a sprawling warehouse known for its alternative club nights — was a fitting backdrop for Findikoglu’s darkly romantic and subversive designs, which have drawn equally bold fans such as Lady Gaga, Madonna and Doja Cat. Also among the highlights were a skin-colored leather dress covered in intricate scrawls by tattoo artist Jonah Slater, and pieces covered in seashells — a nod to the goddess Venus, who was born in the sea.
Also with a late-night slot was Carzana, who drew about 120 people to his show in a cozy pub in Clerkenwell, a neighborhood popular with architects and other creatives. On a digital screen, the clothes can appear raggedy, as if intended to be worn by the cast of “Les Misérables,” but the Welsh designer’s slow fashion approach to hand-making, the use of vegetables, flowers and spice-based dyes, and the acute creativity in his construction, is what makes him a standout among his peers.
Popular mainstays, such as Roksanda, Simone Rocha and Erdem, stayed the course and presented collections that were unmistakably true to their brand identities. Inspired by the late British visual artist Phyllida Barlow, Roksanda leaned into odd color pairings, such as copper brown and Yves Klein blue, and vivid artistic prints. Art also typically plays a key role in Erdem’s collections: this time, the eponymous designer partnered with Kaye Donachie, a Scottish painter known for her figurative works, on appliques hand-drawn onto gauzy fabrics, which made the models look like walking watercolor paintings.
Meanwhile, Simone Rocha turned to the childhood fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare,” as the starting point for her collection. Some famous faces, including model and television host Alexa Chung and actresses Fiona Shaw and Bel Powley, made a surprise appearance on the runway, some carrying rabbit or turtle-shaped accessories. Rocha’s signature darkly romantic pieces were complemented by a greater range of accessories, from the knitted neckerchief to the silver hardware (including belts, necklaces and earrings) that featured a padlock.
It was the return of Cool Britannia at brand S.S. Daley, which presented reinvented wardrobe staples such as trench coats, rain jackets, duffle coats, bomber jackets and pea coats to a score of ‘80s post-punk British hits from The Smiths, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the Pet Shop Boys. The outerwear — the kind you’d see on a drizzly day in London — were not quite weather-appropriate, ironically. Instead, the classic pieces were refashioned in lightweight blue-and-white printed chiffon, tufted felt and floral chintz.
The collection was inspired by Scottish Colourists, a prolific group of painters in the 1920s known for their vibrant and confident use of colors, resulting in artworks that were often “quite smudgy and fibrous,”, said S.S. Daley founder and designer Steven Stokey-Daley. Backstage, Stokey-Daley shared that he had especially been drawn to Francis Cadell, one of the Scottish Colourists, who “ventured out to find new color inspiration” — and so he replicated Cadell’s painting of Iona Croft, an island off the west coast of Scotland, on felted pieces.
Daniel Fletcher’s debut as creative director of Chinese fashion label Mithridate was a similar masterclass in British heritage. Pastel-hued sweaters were tied and swung over the shoulder, while pinstriped Oxford shirts were styled with leather brogues. On joining “a young brand without an archive,” Fletcher took the opportunity to draw from his own heritage. “I (wanted to) look at that preppy, eccentric way of dressing that is so unique to the UK,” he told CNN backstage after the show.
There was also plenty of appeal off the runway, as several designers opted to present their new designs privately, while others hosted events for their communities.
Saul Nash collaborated on a collection with athletic-wear maker Lululemon, while Ahluwalia teamed up with jewelry company Pandora on an engraving event. Elsewhere, Stefan Cooke and Grace Wales Bonner (who normally shows in Paris) prioritized in-person previews, while Aaron Esh, 16 Arlington’s Marco Capaldo and Feben Vemmenby of Feben hosted private dinners, respectively. Labrum, Karoline Vitto and Tolu Coker opted for presentations, where people could drop in and see the designs throughout the day.
Asked why she had eschewed a show this season, Coker told CNN that a presentation “felt more aligned” with the brand and business. “I’m constantly evaluating how I present and how I tell stories. My practice is very multidisciplinary.” It may also mark a permanent shift, she said. “As a young brand, I think that a runway show every season is not always the most effective way of maximizing resources, which often are very limited.”
Coker added that the label will present its collection via a showroom in Paris, and as a semi-finalist of this year’s prestigious LVMH Prize, she will also present her collection alongside the other contestants — a move that will surely give the designer additional exposure outside of the UK. “Paris makes a lot more sense for us because it’s where retailers tend to place orders at the end of the season,” she said.
Some designers, including Jonathan Anderson, Rejina Pyo, Molly Goddard and Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida of Marques Almeida have decided to sit the show season out entirely, focusing instead on developing their collections off the runway. Also absent were Chopova Lowena and Knwls, which now only stage shows once a year, in September, demonstrating their ability to run a fashion business without abiding by traditional rules — which is no bad thing at all. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/24/style/london-fashion-week-fall-winter-2025/index.html | 2025-02-24 | 2e374005-ac01-582a-83ba-b7e95eeab1d4 |
Three tropical cyclones are spinning in a row in the South Pacific | Mary Gilbert | Surging tropical activity in the South Pacific Ocean produced a relatively rare occurrence Tuesday: three named tropical cyclones active at the same time: Alfred, Rae and Seru.
It’s the first time in four years the feat has happened in the region, the limits of which start east of Australia and extend about 5,000 miles from the Coral Sea through the South Pacific Ocean.
It last happened as the calendar flipped from January to February in 2021 when tropical cyclones Bina, Ana and Lucas all had sustained winds of at least 50 mph, according to a CNN analysis of NOAA’s historical tropical data.
Tropical cyclone is the catch-all term for the powerful, spinning storms that feed off warm oceans and the strength of which is determined by wind speeds. The strongest are known as hurricanes in the Atlantic and typhoons in the Western Pacific and simply tropical cyclones in the South Pacific.
The South Pacific’s season for them runs from November through April, but typically peaks from January to March, according to the Fiji Meteorological Service.
Early forecasts said the season could end up near-to-below average for named tropical cyclones due in part to the influence of La Niña.
So far, that forecast is panning out; this season has been less active than usual, so it’s quite notable that three cyclones are churning simultaneously.
The South Pacific isn’t the only place to encounter a burst of activity over the past year.
Three named storms churned simultaneously in the Atlantic basin in October. Hurricanes Kirk and Leslie were out in the open Atlantic early in the month while Tropical Storm Milton was in the Gulf. Milton would go on to rapidly intensify into a deadly Category 5 hurricane.
CNN Meteorologist Brandon Miller contributed to this report. | cnn_weather | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/weather/tropical-cyclone-storm-south-pacific-climate/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 74a644c0-2b6b-530a-bfb8-d8f601239b1d |
Human remains returned by Hamas to Israel confirmed as those of former hostage Shiri Bibas | Lucas Lilieholm | Human remains returned to Israel by Hamas on Friday have been confirmed as those of former hostage Shiri Bibas, according to a statement from her family provided Saturday by the hostage relatives’ forum.
Bibas’ remains had been expected to be among those of four hostages returned by Hamas on Thursday, alongside her sons, Kfir and Ariel, and another captive, Oded Lifshitz. The boys were 9 months old and 4 years old, respectively, when they were taken captive.
However, while forensic tests by Israeli authorities confirmed that the remains included those of the two boys and Lifshitz, the fourth body was not that of Shiri Bibas – and nor did it match that of any other Israeli hostage, prompting outrage and condemnation.
Now, her body has been returned to Israel, according to the forum.
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“Last night, our Shiri was brought home. After the identification process at the Institute for Forensic Medicine, we received the news this morning that we had feared: our Shiri was murdered in captivity,” the statement from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said, quoting the Bibas family.
“She has returned home to her sons, her husband, her sister, and all her family to rest,” the statement added.
CNN has contacted the Israeli government for official confirmation of the results of the forensic examination.
Shiri’s husband and the children’s father, Yarden Bibas, was released by Hamas earlier this month after 484 days of captivity.
Opposition party leader Yair Lapid called the return of Bibas’ remains “a long and painful closing of a circle.”
“I share in the pain and sorrow of the family and friends. We so hoped for a different ending,” Lapid said in a post on Telegram.
Kibbutz Nir Oz, the community where Bibas was taken hostage along with her husband and children in the Hamas-led attack of October 7, expressed its “deep sorrow” in a statement Saturday.
“Today, after 16 unbearably difficult months, the painful circle is finally closed for the family, and in the coming days, she will return, together with her two young sons, to eternal rest in the land of Israel,” the statement said.
Earlier Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said it received a coffin from Hamas, and transferred a set of human remains to Israeli authorities. Hamas-run Al-Aqsa news reported that the militant group had handed over what it described as Bibas’ body to the Red Cross, citing its leader Mahmoud Mardawi.
A convoy carrying the remains arrived in Tel Aviv for identification on Friday night. As the vehicles arrived at the city’s Abu Kabir Forensics Center, mourners lined the street outside, holding Israeli flags.
Hamas, which says Shiri and the two boys were killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2023, said later that her body may have earlier been mixed up with the body of another person killed in the airstrike, and vowed to investigate.
Israel has rejected Hamas’ explanation of how the Bibas family members died. On Friday, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari claimed forensic evidence showed militants had murdered the two boys “with their bare hands.” He did not elaborate on the claim, which Hamas later dismissed as “sheer lies.” | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/21/middleeast/shiri-bibas-body-gaza-israel-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-21 | 2a3d9f15-c6af-58a0-9ca8-d96977e22187 |
Gold toilet stolen from English palace, caught on surveillance camera | Katherine Jennings | Surveillance video released by Thames Valley Police shows burglars driving stolen cars through the gates of Blenheim Palace in England before taking off with a solid gold toilet during a heist in 2019. Three of the five defendants involved face multiple charges.
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/world/video/gold-toilet-stolen-blenheim-palace-england-digvid | 2025-02-25 | ec674bff-104d-575b-905b-4b6c835bfad3 |
Tens of thousands join mass funeral for slain Hezbollah leader Nasrallah | Unknown | The long-delayed funeral for Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah took place on Sunday, nearly five months after he was killed in a massive Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Hezbollah has been left badly depleted by Israeli attacks and the mass event was intended as a show of strength for the militant and political group. Israel struck several locations in southern and eastern Lebanon during the mass funeral, according to local and state media. The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah stockpiles of weapons.
A formation of Israeli fighter jets flew very low over the main site of the funeral after Nasrallah’s coffin was unveiled in what Israel’s military called “a clear message” to the group. The Israeli military on Sunday also released footage of what it says is Nasrallah’s assassination.
Tens of thousands of mourners flooded Beirut’s largest stadium, where the ceremony began, and packed the surrounding streets. A large procession trailed the late leader’s hearse to a shrine in southern Beirut, erected as his final resting place.
Mourners threw scarves at the hearse which pallbearers touched on Nasrallah’s turban, placed on top of the Hezbollah-draped coffin, and lobbed it back to mourners.
Speaking from a remote location, Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem addressed mourners and vowed to continue down Nasrallah’s path “even if we are all killed.”
Sunday’s ceremony also commemorated Nasrallah’s successor, Hashem Safieddine, who led the militant group for just days before an Israeli strike killed him in early October.
Nasrallah was secretly buried in a private ceremony shortly after his death, according to Hezbollah officials. That he was only buried on Sunday underscores the militant group’s weakened state, after an Israeli military campaign in Lebanon last autumn nearly wiped out the group’s top military brass and killed thousands of its fighters, in addition to hundreds of civilians.
A ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel was signed last November, ending a months-long war, but drove the militant group deeper underground with Israel continuing to strike what it describes as Hezbollah targets.
Nasrallah’s death marks the end of an era for a militant group that grew from a rag-tag group of guerrilla fighters in 1982 to a regional force whose influence spanned at least four countries.
He was elected leader of the armed group in 1992 as a 32-year-old cleric. He went on to preside over a guerrilla campaign in southern Lebanon that ultimately drove Israeli forces out of the country in 2000, ending a 22-year occupation. In 2006, he led Hezbollah militants in an all-out war against Israel, which devastated large parts of Lebanon but foiled Israel’s stated goal of dismantling the group.
When wars raged in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, Nasrallah’s forces intervened on behalf of groups backed by Iran, shoring up Tehran’s support.
But Hezbollah’s fortunes changed after the Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel which killed around 1,200 people on October 7, 2023. The militant group launched daily rocket attacks on Israel’s northernmost territory, in support of Hamas, displacing some 60,000 Israelis. Around 100,000 Lebanese residents of the south were also displaced in Israeli attacks as part of a tit-for-tat that spanned nearly a year before it spiralled into an all-out war last September.
Nasrallah called it a “supportive front” that he said aimed to pressure Israel into ceasing its retaliatory offensive in Gaza, which has laid waste to large parts of the besieged territory and killed over 48,000 people.
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In mid-September, Israel detonated explosives implanted in thousands of pagers and walkie talkies carried by Hezbollah members and assassinated several of the group’s leaders, laying bare Israel’s thorough infiltration of the armed group.
Severely weakened, Hezbollah’s future as a militant group is being called into question. Israel has vowed to continue to strike the group’s positions until the group disarms and has maintained five strategic positions inside Lebanon’s southern-most territory, breaching the November ceasefire agreement.
The group, which enjoys broad support among Shia Muslims across the region, is a designated terror organization in the US and many other Western countries.
Domestically, the group has come under increasing pressure to lay down its arms. That culminated with the newly elected President Joseph Aoun’s inaugural speech in January when he called on weapons to be monopolized under the authority of the state.
Hezbollah has long resisted calls to give up their arms, which it argues have prevented Israel’s reoccupation of the country. Its detractors say their militancy makes a viable Lebanese state impossible.
This story has been updated with additional information. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/23/middleeast/nasrallah-funeral-lebanon-beirut-israel-intl/index.html | 2025-02-23 | b9fc1429-9251-5b16-b00e-bbd32fe654b3 |
Israel sends tanks to the West Bank for the first time in 20 years. Here’s why that’s significant | Mick Krever | The Israeli military this weekend deployed tanks to the occupied West Bank for the first time in two decades.
In the background of a Gaza ceasefire, Israel has steadily escalated an intense military operation in Palestinian cities in the West Bank, killing dozens and displacing tens of thousands of residents.
Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, Israel has regularly launched airstrikes on the West Bank, which was almost unheard of before. Its defense minister, Israel Katz, said on Sunday that he’d instructed the military to stay for a year and “to prevent the return of residents.”
US President Donald Trump has come under withering criticism for his proposal to expel 2.1 million Palestinians from Gaza. And yet, as the left-leaning Israeli newspaper Haaretz alleged in an editorial Monday, “Israel is already doing in the West Bank what it threatens to do in Gaza.”
Here’s what’s happening.
The West Bank, a territory that lies west of the Jordan River between Israel and Jordan, has been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967. It is home to more than 3.3 million Palestinians.
Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem – including the Old City, with its religious landmarks – from Jordan after a brief war in 1967. Many Israelis believe that Jews have a biblical right to the land, which they call Judea and Samaria.
Since Israel captured the West Bank, around half a million Jewish Israelis have built homes in towns known as “settlements.” Because the West Bank is considered to be occupied under international law, these settlements are illegal, but they are condoned – and even encouraged – by the Israeli government.
In the 1990s, Israel and Palestinian factions started a peace process, which came to be known as the Oslo Accords. The agreement set up a Palestinian government, known as the Palestinian Authority, which would have jurisdiction in parts of the West Bank and Gaza, ahead of the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Many communities in Palestinian cities are known as refugee camps. Though they now resemble urban neighborhoods, they were established after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war for Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes during the creation of Israel.
In July, the International Court of Justice, the United Nations’ top court, issued an unprecedented advisory opinion that found Israel’s presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be illegal, and called on Israel to end its decades-long occupation.
There has always been tension between Palestinians and the Israeli government in the West Bank. Israel has for many years carried out regular incursions into Palestinian communities – targeting, it says, Palestinian militants.
But Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel ushered in a new era.
The Israeli military ramped up its restrictions on Palestinians, setting up new checkpoints and restricting who could cross from the West Bank into Israel. There was a spike of attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinians, killing dozens.
Israel launched a major military incursion in the northern West Bank in August, which it called “Operation Summer Camps.” It sent armored vehicles into the cities of Jenin and Tulkarem, severing water and electricity and leading Palestinians to ration food, residents told CNN.
Armored Israeli bulldozers often rip up tarmacked roads during these incursions. Israel argues it’s a necessary tactic to unearth improvised explosive devices, but it often leaves whole neighborhoods entirely impassable.
Israel has also targeted other aspects of Palestinian life in the West Bank. The Knesset, the country’s parliament, passed a law last year that would make it extremely difficult for the United Nations’ agency for Palestinians to continue operations, alleging that UNRWA, as it’s known, hasn’t done enough to crack down on extremism in its ranks. UNRWA educates 45,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and provides nearly a million annual patient visits at 43 health care facilities.
Israel launched an even more aggressive military operation in the northern West Bank in January, focused on the Jenin refugee camp, dubbed “Operation Iron Wall.” Israel says the operation is necessary to root out Iranian-backed militants who threaten its security.
The defense minister has said that Israel is applying its Gaza playbook to the West Bank.
“A powerful operation to eliminate terrorists and terror infrastructure in the camp, ensuring that terrorism does not return to the camp after the operation is over – the first lesson from the method of repeated raids in Gaza,” Katz said last month.
Israel’s operation has forced more than 40,000 Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank, according to the United Nations. The military has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Among those are at least 184 children. Just this weekend, the Israeli military admitted its forces had killed two 13-year-old children, and that it was investigating the incidents.
Jenin’s mayor told CNN that Israel’s military had razed at least 120 residential buildings and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in destruction. “I believe this operation from the beginning was a political agenda disguised and wrapped in a military and security operation,” Mohammad Jarrar said earlier this month. “But it’s very clear – we all know the goals of this far-right government policy.”
Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, told reporters in Brussels on Monday that “it’s military operations taking place there against terrorists and (there are) no other objectives but this one.”
It is impossible to ignore the role of Trump. His election has emboldened those in Israel who want the government to extend full Israeli sovereignty to West Bank settlements, a process known as annexation. Some want to go even further and annex all of the West Bank.
Trump said earlier this month that “people do like the idea” of annexation, “but we haven’t taken a position on it yet.”
“But we’ll be making an announcement probably on that very specific topic over the next four weeks,” he said.
Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who is in charge of West Bank settlements, ordered preparations for annexation, saying that Trump’s election “brings an important opportunity for the state of Israel.” The only way to remove the “threat” of a Palestinian state, he said, “is to apply Israeli sovereignty over the entire settlements in Judea and Samaria.”
The finance minister seems to play a big role in Netanyahu’s more aggressive approach. Smotrich was against the Gaza ceasefire and is pushing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to return to war there. He is a West Bank settler himself. In January, Smotrich said that the government now considers security in the West Bank to be an official “war goal.”
“After Gaza and Lebanon, today, with God’s help, we have begun to change the security concept in Judea and Samaria,” he said.
Israel’s invasion of Jenin refugee camp was already a significant escalation. But this weekend it became clear that it had no end in sight.
On Friday, Netanyahu visited Jenin and praised the “wonderful job” troops were doing. A photo circulated of him sitting with commanders inside a Palestinian home that the military requisitioned as a command center.
“We are eliminating terrorists, commanders,” he said. “We are doing very, very important work against the desire of Hamas and other terrorist elements to harm us.”
Then on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployed a tank platoon to Jenin – the first time tanks have been sent into the West Bank since 2002, during the Second Intifada, or uprising. It’s a sign of just how militarized the operation there has become. The Israeli military no longer believes that ground troops – and even airstrikes – are enough.
And while Trump and Israel’s extremist ministers make plans to expel Gaza’s population, Israel’s defense minister Katz announced that the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have left their West Bank homes in recent weeks will not be allowed to return.
“Today, I instructed the IDF to prepare for an extended presence in the cleared camps for the next year, and not to allow the return of residents and the resurgence of terror,” he said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement Monday that it was “deeply concerned” by the impact of Israel’s West Bank operations on civilians.
“Displaced civilians in the northern West Bank require urgent assistance,” it said, highlighting that many people are struggling to access essentials including clean water, food, shelter and medical care.
“The ICRC reiterates that the population shall be treated humanely and protected from violence,” it said.
CNN’s Kareem Khadder, Abeer Salman, Dana Karni, Kara Fox and Catherine Nicholls contributed to this report. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/24/middleeast/israel-jenin-west-bank-explainer-intl/index.html | 2025-02-24 | 27f5e9a6-2248-548e-a37c-df887880ad1e |
Israel deploys tanks to occupied West Bank for first time in more than 20 years | Billy Stockwell, Irene Nasser | Israel’s military deployed tanks Sunday into the occupied West Bank Sunday for the first time in more than two decades and said residents who had been “evacuated” will be prevented from returning, in a move decried by Palestinian authorities as an escalation of aggression.
Israel has been carrying out “Operation Iron Wall” – a military campaign focused on the northern West Bank which launched last month, just two days after the Gaza ceasefire began.
On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployed a tank platoon to the northern West Bank city of Jenin, as Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had ordered the military “to prepare for prolonged presence” in Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank for the “coming year,” and to “prevent the return of residents and the resurgence of terrorism.”
Katz said that three camps – Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams – were now empty of some 40,000 residents after being “evacuated.” Several residents who fled Jenin refugee camp previously told CNN the Israeli military had ordered them to evacuate and they did not know when they would be allowed to return home.
At least 27 people have been killed in the offensive in Jenin and 70 across the West Bank since the beginning of the year, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Earlier this week, Israeli forces demolished more than a dozen apartment buildings at a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian official told CNN.
Israeli tanks were last sent into the West Bank in 2002 as part of “Operation Defensive Shield” during the second Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, the Israeli military told CNN.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) said on Monday that at least 365 Palestinians have been detained by Israel in Jenin and Tulkarem since the operation began on January 21. The figure includes those who remain in custody as well as those released, PPS said, adding that children, women, young men, the injured, and the elderly are among those arrested.
At least 14,500 Palestinians have been arrested across the entire West Bank since October 2023, according to the PPS, saying that “this is collective punishment.”
CNN has reached out to Israeli authorities for comment.
The Israeli military meanwhile said Sunday that it was operating in “additional towns” in the Jenin area.
Jenin Mayor Mohammad Jarrar told CNN that Israeli forces have destroyed private property and infrastructure in the area including more than 100 residential buildings, each consisting of multiple apartments. Hundreds of other residential buildings have been partially destroyed, he said.
“If the world stays silent we are afraid this will continue for the rest of the West Bank,” Jarrar said.
A social media video seen by CNN that cannot be independently verified shows what appears to be a military bulldozer digging a road in what is said to be the Jenin area on Monday morning.
CNN has reached out to the Israeli military for comment.
The Israeli military has launched regular incursions into Jenin and its refugee camps in recent years but has not established a permanent presence in the immediate area. Jenin came under Israeli occupation in 1967 but was put under the administration of the Palestinian National Authority in 1995 as a result of the Oslo Accords.
Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, Israel has engaged in an increasingly militarized campaign that it says targets West Bank militants, employing tactics like airstrikes that were once nearly unheard of there.
The Palestinian foreign ministry said Israel’s “deployment of heavy tanks” was a “step towards escalating its aggression and expanding its crimes against the Palestinian people, especially in the northern West Bank and its refugee camps.”
In a statement, the ministry “emphasized the urgent need for international intervention to curb the aggression of the occupation, which is carried out without regard for laws or signed agreements, and to compel it to cease its aggression against the Palestinian people and their rights, foremost of which is their right to remain on their land.”
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Israeli Defense Minister Katz said Sunday the Israeli military is “conducting offensive operations to eliminate terrorist strongholds, neutralizing militants, and destroying terror infrastructure, buildings, and weapons caches on a large scale.”
He vowed to “continue clearing refugee camps and other terror hubs to dismantle the battalions and terror infrastructure of radical Islam.”
“We will not return to the previous reality,” he said.
The Palestinian foreign ministry has dismissed such justifications as “pretexts” to bring the territory under Israeli control.
In November, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich – who is in charge of Jewish settlements in the West Bank – ordered preparations for the annexation of the settlements, saying that US President Donald Trump’s victory “brings an important opportunity for the state of Israel.”
Palestinians want the West Bank, as well as Gaza and occupied East Jerusalem, for a future independent state. Jewish settlements there are considered illegal under international law.
CNN’s Kareem Khadder contributed to this report. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/23/middleeast/israel-west-bank-campaign-expands-intl/index.html | 2025-02-23 | 8a3cc5fb-0148-5d51-a669-443f3dc5d367 |
7,000 killed since January in fighting in DRC, prime minister says | Unknown | Some 7,000 people have died since January in fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), its prime minister told a high-level meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.
Some 450,000 people are without shelter after 90 displacement camps were destroyed, Judith Suminwa Tuluka added.
The M23’s advance is the gravest escalation in more than a decade of the long-running conflict in eastern Congo. The rebel group’s capture of swathes of the east and valuable mineral deposits has fanned fears of a wider war.
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Rwanda rejects allegations from Congo, the United Nations and Western powers that it supports M23 with arms and troops.
The prime minister urged the world to act and to impose “dissuasive sanctions” amid mass displacements and summary executions.
“It is impossible to describe the screams and cries of millions of victims of this conflict,” she added.
In the opening remarks at the 58th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, UN chief Antonio Guterres said that human rights around the world are being “suffocated” and referred to horrifying human rights abuses in the DRC.
Since the start of the year, the DRC has faced back-to-back losses in North and South Kivu provinces, fueling criticism of the authorities’ military strategy.
This story has been updated. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/24/africa/7000-killed-in-fighting-in-drc-intl/index.html | 2025-02-24 | cb73280a-054f-5fb0-8830-038640277aff |
‘I was really shocked’: Body placed next to passenger on Qatar Airways flight | Chris Lau | An airline traveler has spoken of his shock after cabin crew sat him next to the body of a fellow passenger who had died during the flight.
The female passenger collapsed in the aisle beside Mitchell Ring and his partner Jennifer Colin during their Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Doha, they told CNN affiliate Nine Network. The Australian couple were on their way to Venice for a vacation.
Ring recalled watching the crew try to revive the woman.
“Unfortunately, the lady couldn’t be saved, which was pretty heartbreaking to watch,” he told Nine.
The crew then tried to wheel the body toward the business class section but were unable to maneuver it through the narrow aisle, Ring said.
“So they looked a bit frustrated and then they just looked at me and saw seats were available beside me… and they just said to me, can you move over please?” he said. “And I just said, ‘yes, no problem,’ and then they placed the lady in the chair that I was in.”
Ring then sat next to the body for the roughly four remaining hours of the flight, he said, despite there being other empty seats on the plane.
Another passenger offered Colin an empty seat across the aisle from Ring, where she sat for the rest of the flight.
“I was really shocked,” Colin told Nine, calling the experience “traumatic.”
“We totally understand that we can’t hold the airline responsible for the poor lady’s death, but there has to be a protocol then to look after the customers that are on board,” she said.
In an email statement to CNN, a spokesperson for Qatar Airways said that the company’s “thoughts are with the family members of the passenger who sadly passed away on-board a recent Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne, Australia.”
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“We have been in contact with the family of the passenger who passed away to express our condolences on their loss. We have also directly spoken with the affected passengers to address their concerns,” the statement continues.
“The safety and comfort of all our passengers is of paramount importance to us”
After the flight landed, Ring said passengers in his area were told to stay put until ambulance workers and police officers arrived to remove the body.
“I can’t believe they told us to stay,” he said, adding he was present when ambulance officers pulled away the blanket.
The couple said they weren’t immediately contacted by the airline, which they said owes them “a duty of care.”
Ring said he expected the airline to offer counseling support.
Qantas Airways, through which the couple bought their tickets, said they were in touch with Colin and have followed up with Qatar Airways.
“The process for handling incidents onboard an aircraft like this is managed by the operating airline, which in this case is Qatar Airways,” it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Ring and Colin are trying to process the tragedy.
“I don’t really know how I feel,” Ring told Nine.
“And would like… to talk to somebody and to make sure I’m alright.” | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/australia/qatar-airways-flight-dead-passenger-body-intl-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 8960e075-aae4-5605-b566-191c2f0c2450 |
Christian sect members who watched 8-year-old die get lengthy prison sentences | Hilary Whiteman | The parents of an 8-year-old girl who died after they withheld her insulin, encouraged by members of a small Christian sect who believed God would save her, have been sentenced to at least 14 years in prison.
Elizabeth Struhs died in January 2022 on a mattress on the floor of her home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, days after her father Jason Struhs, 53, declared that she no longer needed medication for Type 1 diabetes.
Her mother, Kerrie Struhs, 49, encouraged Elizabeth’s father to withhold her insulin, as did 12 other members of a Bible-based sect known as “The Saints,” who were last month found guilty of manslaughter in a judge-only trial.
In a sentencing hearing Wednesday, Queensland Supreme Court Justice Martin Burns sentenced sect leader Brendan Stevens, 63, to 13 years in prison, describing him as “a dangerous, highly manipulative individual.”
Eleven other members of the sect, who sang and prayed while Elizabeth died, were sentenced to between six and nine years in prison.
“Elizabeth suffered a slow and painful death and you are all, in one way or another, responsible,” Justice Burns wrote in his sentencing remarks.
It’s not the first time Jason and Kerrie Struhs have been prosecuted for failing to give Elizabeth medical care.
In 2019, Elizabeth, then 6, was hospitalized for a month after becoming gravely ill from undiagnosed and untreated diabetes. At the time, her father rejected the sect’s insistence that God would heal her and eventually took his daughter to hospital.
That time, Jason Struhs pleaded guilty to “failing to provide the necessaries of life to Elizabeth” and was given a suspended sentence after testifying against his wife. Kerrie Struhs pleaded not guilty and was given an 18-month sentence.
What happened next all but sealed Elizabeth’s fate.
While Kerrie Struhs was in prison, her husband’s 17-year opposition to the sect crumbled, the trial heard, and he became “baptized” as its newest member.
Elizabeth died just three weeks after her mother was released from prison on parole, telling her parole officer that she’d withhold her daughter’s treatment again, if given the choice. She also said she wouldn’t intervene if anyone tried to help Elizabeth – but no one did.
The couple at the center of the case had a long and often combative relationship.
Jason Struhs told police that his wife wasn’t very religious during the first few years of their marriage, but that changed when she met sect leader Brendan Stevens and his wife Loretta in 2004.
As Kerrie Struhs grew closer to the Stevens family, she began to reject medical treatment. Jason Struhs remained a staunch non-believer, who insisted that their eight children be vaccinated.
The couple’s conflicting beliefs caused friction in the household, and for a time Jason moved to the garage to “escape the tension.” He worked night shifts and preferred to stay away from the house, either working or playing golf, he told police, according to court documents.
Kerrie Struhs told police her husband was an “angry man” who didn’t believe in God, and that she was planning to leave him after her release from prison in December 2021.
But she changed her mind after she discovered that Jason had joined the church, describing him as much calmer, like a “new person.”
“The change in him has been unbelievable,” she told police.
Jason Struhs told police he had a “mental breakdown” after Kerrie went to prison and sought support from sect members.
To the church, the conversion of someone once vehemently opposed to their teachings was something of a “miracle” – proof that God had cured his anger.
When Jason Struhs declared in early January 2022 – just five months after joining the sect – that Elizabeth no longer needed insulin, church members were elated.
Their campaign to convince him that Elizabeth could be cured by God had worked.
Within days her condition deteriorated, and even as she lay dying with the insulin in the cupboard, no one gave it to her or suggested they seek medical help.
As Elizabeth became sicker, vomiting then unresponsive, Jason Struhs seemed to waver in his conviction, but church members rallied around him, encouraging him to follow God’s will.
They sat at Elizabeth’s bedside, singing and praying. “Whatever the Lord’s plan is for us, we will follow it,” Stevens later told police.
Justice Burns said Wednesday Jason Struhs had put his own personal beliefs ahead of his duty as a father, “then staked the life of your eight-year-old child on it.”
Elizabeth died on January 7, 2022, of diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication caused by a lack of insulin and medical treatment for diabetes – the same condition she had in 2019.
The sect continued to sing, dance and pray around her body for 36 hours before Jason Struhs said it was time to phone police.
For years, the sect’s beliefs were reinforced by their leader, Brendan Stevens, who taught his followers to reject modern medicine but denied any responsibility for Elizabeth’s death.
In 2022, as Elizabeth’s condition deteriorated, Stevens told her parents, “This is just a little trial to prove that you all are truly faithful to our faithful God,” according to court documents.
Stevens’ wife Loretta, 67, and six of their adult children – Therese, Andrea, Acacia, Camellia, Alexander and Sebastian Stevens, ages 24 to 35, were also convicted, along with Elizabeth’s older brother Zachary Struhs, 22.
The others included Lachlan and Samantha Schoenfisch, a married couple aged 34 and 26, and Keita Martin, 24, who went to school with the Stevens children and moved in with the family when she was 17. During the trial, their family members told the court they’d become increasingly concerned about their extreme religious beliefs.
On Wednesday, Justice Burns said the culpability of some of the sect members was “reduced significantly” due to the lesser roles they played in Elizabeth’s death and their own indoctrination – some had grown up inside the sect.
But not all were taken in by Brendan Stevens.
Jayde Struhs, Jason and Kerrie Struhs’ eldest daughter, gave evidence against her parents. She left their home at age 16 for fear she’d never be accepted as gay.
In a victim impact statement read in court, Jayde Struhs said: “These people only wanted to control my family and everything they did. All for the sense of power … so they could play God.”
All 14 defendants represented themselves during a 9-week judge-only trial in 2024, however none gave or called any evidence. Speaking on their behalf, Brendan Stevens called the trial a “religious persecution.”
Jayde Struhs told Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC, that Stevens instilled an Armageddon-style fear in his followers.
“The main … messaging that Brendan puts out there is that the world’s going to end and Jesus is going to come back and save us … if you’re not absolute in the walk of God, you’ll go to hell forever,” she said.
Cult expert Raphael Aron, director of Cult Consulting Australia, says Jason Struhs would have been under “immense” pressure to join the group and follow their beliefs.
He said prison is unlikely to change the beliefs of “The Saints,” and if members are allowed further contact with each other, it could further entrench their ideology.
“I don’t know if any group has fallen apart because the leader went to jail; he’s just seen as a martyr, basically a replica of Jesus on the cross,” said Aron. “There’s all sorts of other ways of justifying it, and they keep going.”
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He said he hopes Elizabeth’s death acts as a “wake up call” to anyone who may be questioning the legitimacy of people influencing themselves or a loved one.
A major red flag is the rejection of conventional medicine, Aron said, as it allows the group to conceal abusive behavior.
“The one area in life where the groups can actually be held accountable will be through the medical world, because that practitioner has a responsibility to do something about what’s going on,” said Aron.
Sect leaders also often ban members from accessing the internet because if they did, they might find damning testimony from former members, he added.
Small groups with extreme beliefs are all but impossible to detect unless people come forward, Aron said – but in Australia, unlike the United States, there are few avenues to report them.
He’s advocating for a regulatory body with the power to investigate complaints.
“The problem is, if you go to the police and no crime has been committed, they can’t do anything, and by the time the crime has been committed, it’s too late.”
Justice Burns said Wednesday that the prospects of the offenders’ rehabilitation were “bleak, to say the least.”
“Each of you engaged in some sort of spiritual gamble with the life of a child – a child you professed to love. The arrogance of your belief in that regard was and remains bewildering.” | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/australia/elizabeth-struhs-sect-sentenced-intl-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 217d815c-da5b-594d-9064-3f98f18fea29 |
‘You need a bath after the bath’: World’s largest religious gathering wraps up after 600 million devotees take holy dip | Helen Regan | Hundreds of millions of Hindu devotees have bathed in sacred waters, despite concerns over overcrowding and water pollution, as the world’s largest religious gathering wrapped up Wednesday in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Over the last 45 days, more than 620 million people – over a third of India’s roughly 1.4 billion population - have attended the Maha Kumbh Mela, or the festival of the Sacred Pitcher, on the riverbanks in the city of Prayagraj, in a spectacle of color and expression of faith.
Followers have come to take a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three holy rivers – the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati – to purify their sins and take another step closer to “spiritual liberation.”
Every 12 years the festival carries the prefix “Maha,” which means great, as it’s the largest gathering of the Kumbh Mela that’s held every three years in one of four cities.
“It is a unique, once in a lifetime experience,” said Sushovan Sircar, 36, who works as an independent consultant in Delhi. “People from all over India are here, as I saw number plates of cars from almost every state.”
Though this year’s festivities have been marred by two separate, deadly crowd crushes, millions have turned out for the festival despite concerns of overcrowding and reports of “unsafe” levels of contamination in key bathing sites.
A report from the Central Pollution and Control Board (CPCB), part of India’s Environment Ministry, last month found high levels of coliform faecal bacteria in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, despite the government touting sustainable initiatives and sanitation efforts.
Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath denied the accuracy of the government report, insisting that the water was not just safe for bathing, but also for the Hindu ritual of drinking a handful after bathing.
Attendees often submerge themselves fully, sometimes drinking or collecting the sacred water in containers.
Sircar, the independent consultant from Delhi, said he bathed in the water at Sangam point – the confluence of the three rivers considered to be the most auspicious place to bathe and where most people take their dip – twice last week.
“There is a concern because there is nothing I can do about the contamination in the water. In your mind you tell yourself, this part looks clean, spend a few minutes in, recite prayers and come out,” said Sircar.
“I took a shower for sins and then another shower for the contamination,” he laughed. “So you need a bath after the bath… My sins are cleansed, but not (my) body.”
Before the festival began, India’s top environmental court directed the state and federal pollution boards to ensure the river water was clean enough to drink and bathe in. It called for increasing monitoring and sample collecting of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers and ensuring that no untreated sewage or solid waste would be discharged.
But a report submitted by the federal pollution board on February 3 stated that faecal coliform levels, a key indicator of untreated sewage and faecal matter in water, were far above the safe limit set by the board of 2,500 units per 100 millilitres.
At various parts of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers around Prayagraj levels were more than 1,000 over the safe limit, according to the report.
Adityanath said his government was continually monitoring the water levels to ensure its quality.
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In pictures: Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious festival
Kumbh Mela organizers also told CNN that an “exhaustive survey” of all 81 drains that release water in the rivers was carried out ahead of the festival.
“We have ensured that the water quality has been maintained,” said Kumbh Mela officer Vivek Chaturvedi.
Aishwary Sharma, 31, a finance professional in Delhi, said he took a dip in the rivers despite knowing it could be polluted.
“I think it is quite evident that the Ganga and Yamuna are not clean rivers,” he said. “(But) there are many things that are bad for you… The air we breathe is so toxic for our health… It is just another thing that is polluted that could have a harmful impact on my health.”
For others, their faith and participating in the sacred festival was more important than their concerns.
“What (most people) are interested in is their devotion and religion and that they want to take that holy dip,” said Sunny Parasher, 34, from Panchkula in Haryana state.
“Where there is devotion, where there is religion, there is no question,” he said.
Kalpana Mishra, 55, a housewife from Prayagraj, said she would not take another holy dip after reading the pollution board’s report.
“What does being a literate person mean if you hear all this and still decide to go?” she asked.
Exposure to faecal contamination can cause water borne diseases such as typhoid, diarrhoea, cholera, gastroenteritis, E-coli, skin disease and vomiting, health experts warn.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made cleaning the Ganges, India’s holiest river, a priority since first taking office in 2014 – with billions of dollars spent or pledged on sewage treatment, cleaning surface waste and afforestation in the decade since.
The Ganges, a lifeline for 400 million people who live and work along it, runs through 50 Indian cities that pump out about 3 billion liters of sewage every day – only a fraction of which is treated before it reaches the river, according to the World Bank.
The Yamuna, a tributary of the Ganges, has also for decades been plagued by the dumping of toxic chemicals and untreated sewage.
Ahead of the festival, Indian authorities touted this year’s gathering as a “Green Kumbh,” with sustainable initiatives such as a ban on single-use plastics, eco-friendly toilets, electric rickshaws and an army of 15,000 sanitation workers hired to clean up after major bathing days.
The Ministry of Culture said in January that the festival had been “meticulously planned to uphold hygiene and ecological balance” and would “set an example for future large-scale events worldwide” in environmental responsibility.
Protecting and cleaning the river was even a major theme at a conference held on the sidelines of the festival with religious and environmental leaders coming together for the first time on how religious institutions can address the climate crisis.
“If there is no water in the rivers, there is no Kumbh. We don’t consider it water, we consider it nectar,” said Indian spiritual leader Swami Chidanand Saraswati at the meeting. “If we all do not make efforts to protect it, then the next (Kumbh Mela) will be on mere sand.”
But complicating the green efforts was the enormous crowd size at this year’s Kumbh Mela, which saw 250 million more people than originally expected, according to one expert. Authorities had planned for about 400 million people to attend over the six-week gathering, with about 9 million people per day, but about 620 million people attended in total, according to government figures.
“It is a mammoth task to take care of such a crowd,” said Dr Nupur Bahadur, an associate director with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a research institute that looks at wastewater management, established by the Indian government.
River contamination could be better managed by adopting better on-site prevention and disinfection methods, Bahadur said.
One of them could be halting the dip after every 12 hours for one hour” and letting fresh water run through the bathing areas before “the dips can be restarted,” she said.
Bahadur said that while the festival’s “massive increase in footfall” strained its infrastructure, it has still been “the best human effort possible” in such a situation.
Prayagraj resident Mishra said she will be happy when her city gets back to normal.
“My eyes are constantly burning and there is so much dust,” she said. “I want the festival to end so I can get back to my life.” | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/india/maha-kumbh-mela-water-quality-intl-hnk-dst/index.html | 2025-02-25 | bcb2c46b-178c-54f4-82de-d8ad0d8df558 |
Passengers say cabin crew put a dead body next to them on flight | Daniel Lewis | An Australian couple says they were on a flight from Melbourne to Doha when the cabin crew put the body of a passenger who had died next to them. CNN's Marc Stewart reports about the incident and what the couple told CNN affiliate Nine News. CNN has reached out to Qatar Airways for comment.
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/world/video/body-on-plane-qatar-airways-digvid | 2025-02-26 | 79470c56-62d7-5d96-a97e-6fcf02ec65a3 |
From Instagram to art world darling: The meteoric rise of Danielle Mckinney | Leah Asmelash | Danielle Mckinney’s ladies are in a permanent state of relaxation.
They lounge alone on couches or in bed. They sleep. Some are playful — toying with a butterfly or eying a praying mantis. Others are naked and seemingly unaware of the viewer, cigarettes in hand and gazes soft.
The 43-year-old artist has been painting these women her whole life, she said. As a little girl, she painted little girls, too, but her subjects have aged as she has. In conversation, Mckinney refers to them singularly as her “lady,” and, taken together, the moody portraits reflect intimate moments of solitude and repose.
For years, however, these works were private endeavors by an artist who formally trained as a photographer and only painted on the side. They were never meant to see the world.
Now, a little over four years after first publicly posting her portraits on social media, Mckinney has become one of the art world’s buzziest painters. Prints of her work sell for thousands of dollars; late last year, she even did a collaboration with Dior. At a new exhibition, opening at the TEFAF Maastricht art fair in the Netherlands next month, the Alabama-born artist will debut nine works inspired by American realist Edward Hopper.
The success of recent years initially brought panic, she said. Now, she’s learned to get out of her own head.
“I asked myself, ‘If I didn’t have all the success, would I still be in my studio trying to make these ladies?’” Mckinney said. “And the answer is yes, because I’m so curious as to what’s going to happen on that canvas. Every day, I just want to know.”
While painting was one of Mckinney’s passions, she was a photographer by profession. Growing up, a camera was always her tool of choice, and she completed an MFA in photography at the Parsons School of Design in 2013. After graduating, she kept pursuing photography, contacting galleries and other establishments to publicize her art. She worked weddings. From the streets of New York or in parks, she’d photograph what she called “people in gestures,” because she was “fascinated by humanity and movement.” How do we connect with each other? What is personal space? If you touched another person, how would they react? These questions drove her practice.
That all changed in 2020. At the height of the pandemic, people became guarded. They wore masks. Mckinney couldn’t “see,” she said, and the idea of touching someone outside your circle — interactions her photography relied on — became a cardinal sin. Even taking a socially distanced portrait of a stranger on the street seemed like a thing of the past.
“The world changed in the way I was seeing it, so I couldn’t find joy there,” Mckinney recalled. “I was frustrated. I was extremely frustrated with my craft.”
Shut inside her New Jersey home, Mckinney hit a breaking point. She marched into the local Michaels arts and crafts store, bought some cheap canvases, turned her headphones on and hid away in her attic. And she couldn’t stop painting.
“I wasn’t thinking,” Mckinney said. “And that’s what the creative act does when you can take ‘you’ away.”
While she’d been trained in school to not publish work too casually (the art market is fueled by scarcity, after all), Mckinney decided to forgo her professors’ advice. She made an Instagram account and uploaded her paintings to her page. She figured, why not just put them out there?
“It wasn’t about, ‘Oh, I want to be in this big gallery.’ I just wanted to share,” she said. “I’m not formally trained as a painter but — for me — I like (the portraits). And even if nobody else does, I’m going to share them anyway.”
Four years in, Mckinney is still sharing. Almost all of her works feature dimly lit interiors — a product, perhaps, of Mckinney’s preference of starting with black canvases instead of white ones — and backgrounds dotted with vintage-style furniture, lamps and recreations of famous paintings. In one, her lady lies on the couch with a version of Pablo Picasso’s “Le Rêve” (“The Dream”) behind her; in another, she is flanked by Henri Matisse’s “Dance.”
Her work starts as a collage. As a child, she would cut figures out of magazines for hours, putting the women in little houses or buildings, she said. Her process is more or less the same now: Rather than painting from models, Mckinney Photoshops images of women and interiors that speak to her.
She finds inspiration everywhere: in magazines, old photographs and even on Pinterest. Usually, she’s most attracted to images of women from the mid-20th century — there’s a softness to them, she said. Their bodies are thicker, a little more natural, than the slim models of today.
Sometimes a specific model won’t appeal to her, but rather the shape of a leg will, or a head resting on a sofa. Or she’ll fall in love with an image of a Chinese lantern decorating a room, and pore over images to find inspiration for a woman to sleep on the bed beside it. Slowly but surely, Mckinney piecemeals the elements together.
But sometimes, it doesn’t quite work, and the pieces of the puzzle don’t fit. She’ll paint the interior beautifully, then the model on top, and something about the final product “doesn’t look right.”
“It’ll drive me mad sometimes,” she said.
No matter the painting, one thing is for certain: Mckinney’s ladies stay indoors. She’s tried painting them outside. Once she drafted a woman dipping her toe in a pond, but she scribbled over the work, destroying it before it saw the light of day.
She came to a conclusion: Maybe, her lady just doesn’t want to go outside.
As a self-professed “extreme homebody,” who hardly leaves the house except to go to the studio, Mckinney can relate. In some ways, painting her lady inside is just what’s familiar to her.
Even as the idea of lockdown becomes a distant memory, her work still reads as a testament to rest and one’s own abode. As all her ladies are Black, that element of the work might feel especially revolutionary for other Black women.
“I think it also spoke to … other Black women that had not seen themselves in an art historic context, or just in general, in a leisurely position. They’d never seen themselves in rest,” Mckinney said. “I know I didn’t see it, but I wasn’t setting off to do anything like that.”
When she first began work on her upcoming exhibit, Mckinney was, as she puts it, “nervous and scared.”
Hopper is a legend, she said. His use of light resembles that of a film noir and has inspired filmmakers, like Alfred Hitchcock. As a trained photographer, Mckinney was also enthralled by his work, particularly “Morning Sun,” in which a woman sits on the edge of a bed facing the window, her legs and face illuminated by the sunrise.
Mckinney shares Hopper’s affinity for still, private moments. Her newer work is filled with references to the American realist — shadows stretch across faces, light filters through blinds and voyeuristically peeks into homes.
“That’s something that is in all of those paintings, this idea of these figures in light, in color,” Mckinney said. “His use of green and turquoise — I really wanted to put that in these paintings.”
In other ways, her approach has changed since she started posting her paintings to Instagram. She’s been taking a class at the New Masters Academy, an online art school, to learn the pure painting techniques she was never taught.
As a result, her work has been transformed, Mckinney said. Her brush strokes are freer. She’s looser, less afraid of color. And she’s finally learned to mix paint, allowing her to move away from the green and dark tones that dominate her early work. The new paintings, she said, have a more whimsical quality.
“I feel like it’s going to really improve my work,” she said of the classes. “Anytime you’re enjoying something and learning, I feel like it communicates in the work.”
But as far as subject matter goes, Mckinney said she’s focused on her lady. She cares for each iteration deeply, admitting that her attachment to them might be a bit “kooky.” She still gets depressed when they sell and her lady leaves, even as she recognizes her portraits have come to represent universal feelings.
When asked about what those feelings might be, Mckinney paused.
“We all wear these masks when we go out in the world,” she explained. “We have to be all these things and say all these things.”
But at the end of the day, she said, we get to come home, close the door and find that private moment all to ourselves.
“That’s what I really try to capture in this beautiful solitude,” Mckinney said. “Some of the ladies are very tense in those moments with a cigarette, and then sometimes they’re asleep and beautiful. But those moments are theirs.”
That’s what Mckinney wants us all to have, she continued. Our own moments. For herself, too.
Mckinney’s new works will be showing at Marianne Boesky Gallery’s booth at the TEFAF Maastricht fair March 15-20.
Correction: Mckinney’s age was misstated in a previous version of this story. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/style/danielle-mckinney-artist-profile-cec/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 39c7d69d-be14-5aaf-9bd1-2d801ff39549 |
The polar vortex is acting weird and the US is paying the price this winter | Mary Gilbert | It’s really, really cold again — as the US shivers through at least the eighth blast of air from the Arctic this winter.
Winter, which is warming faster than any other season for much of the US, seems to be making a comeback for the first time in years; this January was the coldest in the Lower 48 since 1988.
But the US is an outlier, and so is this winter. January was the warmest on record for the globe and, in a vast expanse of global warmth, the US sticks out like a cold, sore thumb.
Scientists say it’s being caused by a misbehaving polar vortex combining with a key weather pattern that seems to be stuck in place.
Some scientists say these factors and this winter could be examples of how extreme cold behaves in a warming world. Others argue it doesn’t paint a complete picture and further research is needed.
What they do have consensus on is that winter is getting warmer as the planet warms because of fossil fuel pollution, so this Arctic blast from the past feels more like a relic of a bygone era.
“We’re definitely shifting the goal posts on what winter looks like,” Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist with the University of California, Berkeley, said, noting that when we experience a season that’s actually chilly, it’s somewhat jarring.
“There’s no location in the US where the coldest day of the year has gotten colder over the last 50 years,” Hausfather continued. “Our memories are short as to what a normal winter is.”
A few atmospheric factors — including the polar vortex — have come together to make the US the epicenter of cold this winter.
One is a weather pattern around the Arctic Circle that has emerged more frequently than usual this winter and is driving this week’s cold, according to Judah Cohen, director of seasonal forecasting at Atmospheric and Environmental Research.
It features a large, long-lasting area of high pressure known as a blocking high because it blocks cold air and reroutes it south via a large dip the jet stream — the river of air over the US that storms flow through –— that also separates cold air from warm air.
This high has been stuck over Alaska and northwest Canada, which is something that generally happens more often during La Niña winters and forces the cold to spill into parts of the Lower 48. The end result has been one of the warmest winters to-date in Alaska and an unusually cold one in the Lower 48.
The frequent emergence of this pattern this winter could be a sign of things to come in a warming world. A 2023 study found blocking highs in the Arctic Circle similar to this year’s would become more frequent as the Arctic warmed and weakened the jet stream, allowing more cold to spill south.
It’s part of a growing body of research linking the rapidly warming Arctic to changes in jet stream behavior and extreme cold. Other scientists, including Hausfather, think additional research is needed.
Whether or not it’s connected to climate change, the pattern is still rearing its head this winter and it’s working in tandem with the polar vortex.
The jet stream and frigid air just could not make it quite as far south without also having help from the polar vortex, according to Cohen. That’s because the polar vortex doesn’t cause US cold air outbreaks but instead amplifies them, Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center said.
The polar vortex is area of fast-moving winds well above the Earth’s surface and the jet stream that circle the Arctic during the Northern Hemisphere’s coldest months. When it’s strong, it keeps brutally cold air trapped in the Arctic, like a figure skater doing a spin with their arms tight to their body. When it’s weak, the cold air frequently spills south.
The polar vortex has been “considerably stronger” than usual this year, according to Laura Ciasto, a meteorologist with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, which should keep record-breaking cold out of the US. But it hasn’t because the polar vortex has been frequently been stretching into weird shapes Cohen said.
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A strong polar vortex is circular like a rubber band when it rests on a surface untouched. But energy circling the atmosphere can sometimes smash into the polar vortex, like two hands trying to fling a rubber band, stretching it into something more oblong than circular. That’s what’s happening now.
Now stretched, the polar vortex can then shift the jet stream even farther south than just the blocking high could do on its own. This allows more cold air to spill into the US, and further south, too, Cohen explained.
See, for example, the below-zero wind chills Dallas endured Wednesday morning, or when New Orleans was buried under a record-breaking 8 inches of snow in January.
The polar vortex has been snapping back and forth from a normal to a stretched state with unusual frequency this year, hence all of the cold snaps, Cohen said. At least 10 of these stretched polar vortex events have occurred this winter, including the ongoing event, according to Cohen: four in December, four in January and two in February.
The polar vortex is usually “like an aircraft carrier, it doesn’t turn around quickly and isn’t very nimble,” Cohen said. “I’ve really never seen anything like it.”
These polar vortex stretches are happening more frequently as the world — and especially the Arctic — warms, a 2021 paper published in the journal Science, also co-authored by Cohen, demonstrated.
And it’s having a huge impact. A stretched polar vortex event played a significant role in the Arctic outbreak that froze Texas in February 2021, killing more than 200 people, according to Cohen’s study.
The blocking pattern and stretched polar vortex are two factors at the forefront of a still-active and often highly debated area of research into both why and how frequently extreme cold outbreaks reach the US in a warming world.
“There are multiple ways that human caused climate change is having an influence on the jet stream, but it’s never clear which factor is the most important one in any given event, like the cold spell happening now,” Francis explained. “It’s always a combination (of factors), and it’s always complicated.”
There could be other yet to be discovered influences, and confidence will grow as research continues, but scientists know extreme bouts of cold like what’s happening this winter will still happen even as temperatures keep rising globally.
“These extreme cold events (will) perhaps happen more often, even though they probably won’t be quite as cold over time as the air generally warms,” Francis concluded. But when they do, “they’re going to be just as disruptive.”
CNN’s Laura Paddison contributed to this report. | cnn_weather | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/21/weather/polar-vortex-cold-winter-climate/index.html | 2025-02-21 | 595cacc5-a6c8-5ef0-a79e-953d6fa18fe7 |
‘We are in danger’: Migrants deported from US were locked in hotel and held at remote camp in Panama, lawyers say | Yong Xiong, Michael Rios, Ivonne Valdés | For days, they say they were locked inside a hotel in Panama, surrounded by tight security with limited contact with the outside world.
Nearly 300 migrants from Asia, all deported by the US, were held there by Panamanian authorities who agreed to take them in and eventually repatriate them. It’s part of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, which it has pressured Latin American nations to help with.
Some migrants have been transferred to a remote camp at the edge of a jungle that few can access, lawyers representing some of the migrants told CNN. Now, they wait to learn if they will be sent back to the countries they fled or to another nation willing to receive them.
But the conditions they have faced are distressing and may have violated their rights, the lawyers said.
The migrants started arriving in Panama City last week after being deported from the US. Some didn’t even know they were being flown to another country until they actually landed in Panama, according to attorney Ali Herischi, who said “they were told they’re going to Texas.”
The migrants were then sent to the Decapolis Hotel and forced to stay there for days without stepping foot outside.
Jenny Soto Fernández, a Panamanian lawyer who represents about 24 migrants from India and Iran, said her clients were living in isolation, fear and uncertainty.
She said a lot of them didn’t know their rights and weren’t given orders of removal upon being deported. They also face language barriers and are constantly worried about being repatriated, she added.
One of the migrants is Artemis Ghasemzadeh, an Iranian national who fled her country out of fear of persecution because of her conversion to Christianity.
“Under Islamic law, you cannot convert from Islam to any other religion,” said Herischi, who represents her.
Ghasemzadeh now worries her life will be at risk if she’s returned to Iran.
“We are in danger,” she said in text messages to CNN on Tuesday. “We are waiting for (a) miracle.”
At the hotel, some migrants tried to voice their concerns by sending distress signals to journalists gathered outside. Standing in front of their windows, they held up pieces of paper with handwritten notes begging for support.
“Please help us,” one sign read. “We are not (safe) in our country.”
Another message was written with lipstick directly on the window. “HELP US,” it read in bold, red letters.
The migrants were not allowed to leave the hotel “for their own protection,” Panama’s Security Minister Frank Ábrego told a local radio program on Wednesday. He said they were held at the hotel, in part, because officials needed to “effectively verify who these people are who are arriving in our country.”
Soto argues that the migrants have the right to seek asylum because they’re fleeing persecution.
“These people that are requesting refugee (status) — it’s not because they want to come here on an adventure or a trip. No, they’re escaping. They’re victims of violence and persecution,” she told CNN.
Soto said she tried at least four times to meet her clients at the hotel to sign legal documents required by authorities but was blocked by officials and never made it past the lobby.
Soto sent CNN a video filmed by her clients, showing her waving to them from the hotel staircase below, trying to reach them to hand them the paperwork. But the clients were prevented from going down and Soto was told to leave.
“They actually were so emotional, screaming and said, ‘I want my lawyer! I want her. I want to talk to her. I don’t want to talk to these people here,’” Soto said.
Attorney Susana Sabalza told CNN she represents a family from Taiwan who was held at the hotel for five days without knowing what was happening.
She said that while they had comfortable beds and a place to stay, they were under “psychological pressure being closed in with security guards, immigration police, (and) officers there.”
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CNN has reached out to Panama’s security ministry, as well as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), who are involved in the repatriation efforts.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday denied that authorities have violated any laws.
“These organizations are respectful of human rights. It’s false and I deny that we are mistreating them,” Mulino insisted.
Security Minister Ábrego said Wednesday that he hadn’t heard of any migrants requesting asylum there.
“But if they think they have the need, as any human being would, to request asylum, we have to pay attention to it and approve or disapprove it,” he added.
CNN has reached out to Panama’s National Office for Refugee Assistance to determine if anyone has filed an asylum claim.
The Panamanian government said that from Tuesday to Wednesday, about 97 migrants were taken out of the hotel and bused to a remote holding camp on the outskirts of the Darién Jungle. It happened after a New York Times report exposed the desperation of those stranded in the hotel in Panama City.
The miracle that Ghasemzadeh had hoped for didn’t come. Hours after talking to CNN, she became one of those transferred to the camp. Her relatives said she learned late Tuesday night that she would be moved out of the hotel with about 12 other people, and that she didn’t know where authorities would take her at the time.
Herischi, who represents Ghasemzadeh and nine other refugees, told CNN that his clients ended up being detained in a “very bad” camp.
He said they described the site as tough and dirty, with limited access to medication and the internet.
One family has a sick child who could be heard crying in the background during a call between Herischi and Panamanian officials.
Sabalza said the family she represents was also taken to the camp.
“It’s complicated because there are children five years old (and) it’s a tropical place,” she told CNN.
She said Panamanian authorities had not yet provided them with guidelines on how the attorneys would be able to visit their clients at the camp or if they would need special permits to enter.
“It is urgent for us to have clarity about the mental and physical health status of our (clients),” she said.
When the migrants arrived at the gate on Wednesday morning, Herischi said the situation was so unorganized that the guards didn’t even have a list of the migrants’ names to identify them upon arrival. The guards later confiscated all the migrants’ cell phones.
“It shows that (it’s) such an unorganized and never-thought-of (situation,) and just ad hoc political decision to accept this, but they don’t know what to do with them,” he told CNN.
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He added that he plans to file legal action against Panama and the US in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and US federal court.
More than 100 migrants have asked not to be repatriated, Panamanian officials have said.
The IOM is expected to work with them and try to find a third country that will accept them, Security Minister Ábrego said.
Meanwhile, President Mulino said another group of migrants would be sent to the camp because “that’s where they can be more at ease.”
He added that 175 migrants who are still in the hotel have voluntarily agreed to return to their countries of origin. At least 13 have already been sent back.
Herischi said Panamanian authorities assured him they would not send Ghasemzadeh and other migrants back to Iran if they expressed fear of reprisals. Instead, officials said they would speak with the embassies of other countries to see if they can accept them.
Herischi concluded, “The only ‘luck’ that they got is that Panama has no relationship with Iran, so there is no Iranian embassy there.”
“That’s a good thing.” | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/22/americas/migrants-deported-camp-panama-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-22 | c697a604-95c7-5827-ac0a-0df2b1970f71 |
Canada’s men’s soccer coach is an American. He’s ‘ashamed’ of Trump’s call for Canada to be the 51st state | Jacob Lev | Canadian men’s soccer national team head coach Jesse Marsch, an American, offered a strong rebuke of President Donald Trump’s quips on the country potentially becoming the 51st state of the United States.
Speaking to reporters at Concacaf Nations League Finals media day in Inglewood, California, Marsch called Trump’s ongoing comments “unsettling and frankly insulting.”
“Canada is a strong, independent nation that is deep-rooted in decency, really, and it’s a place that values high ethics and respect,” Marsch said.
The 51-year-old Marsch, born in Wisconsin, played 14 seasons in Major League Soccer and has coached Canada since 2024.
“Unlike the polarized, disrespectful and often hate-fueled climate in the US, Canada values fairness and unity. It’s a place – that I’ve learned as the national team coach – where people believe that their differences make them stronger,” Marsch said.
“For me, right now, I couldn’t be prouder to be the Canadian national team head coach and I found a place that embodies the ideals and morals of not just what football is but what life is - that’s integrity, respect, and the belief that good people can do great things together,” Marsch said.
“If I have one message to our president, it’s lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state. As an American, I’m ashamed of the arrogance and disregard that we’ve shown one of our historically oldest, strongest and most loyal allies.”
Following the press conference, CNN’s Don Riddell spoke to Marsch, who said he was “prepared” to speak out on the rhetoric.
“Everything in the US is politically charged but for me, this is about decency, about respecting neighbors, about respecting relationships, Marsch said to CNN.
“And there’s a lot of people up in Canada that are very proud of what’s been established and very proud to be very Canadian. I have a real respect for what that means and certainly being the national team coach, I understand that I have a responsibility to represent that and make sure that we are by everything we do, and specifically by how we play, that we represent everything the country is.”
Marsch brought up his right to free speech when asked about potential blowback from Trump.
“We all have the right to speak. This is one of the fundamental rights of being an American. So, I would certainly hope that everyone would still – even you disagree with me – and this is where we are in America, with the culture, with politics, with social relationships – there’s too much vitriol and there’s not enough mutual respect and understanding that as being Americans, part of a fundamental right is the right to disagree,” Marsch said.
Marsch laughed when Riddell asked him if he thought Trump would respond to his comments.
“I don’t know him personally. I just watched from afar like everybody else. There’s some things that I agree with, there’s somethings I disagree with. I think I made it very clear how I felt about this idea of the 51st state. It doesn’t belong in the discourse and Canada deserves so much more.”
The political tensions between the United States and Canada have boiled over into the sports world in the last month. After Canadian fans booed the US national anthem during NBA and NHL games, the friction came to a boiling point at this month’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
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The political situation caused by the provocative statements Trump has hurled toward the US’ northern and southern neighbors is even more awkward in soccer, given that the USA, Mexico and Canada are co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre weighed in on the ongoing tensions in sport.
“I am also the son of immigrants,” Aguirre said. “It is not easy to leave your country in search of a better life for your family and it is not easy. I remember my parents also suffered from the post-war period, and this happens here, so I identify a lot with these people who came here looking for a life, the American Dream. And I always have respect and am grateful for the support.”
Aguirre continued, “I have been doing it for almost 50 years, and I will continue to do so. I have great respect for those Mexicans and children of Mexicans and grandchildren of Mexicans who are here, who support us, and who at least – give them joy that day. So the rest, no – for me I do not have the capacity to speak about it or the authority.
“Although for me it is the Gulf of Mexico, obviously, by the way,” he said, a jab at the Trump administration’s attempt to rename the body of water the Gulf of America.
Marsch quickly agreed with Aguirre’s comments.
The Concacaf Nations League will pit Canada against Mexico on March 20 while the US men’s national team will play Panama. The US and Canada can meet in the final on March 23 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
“One thing is for sure, when I look forward to a month from now, this will fuel our team, the mentality we have, the will we have to play for our country, the desire we have to go after this tournament in every way and show on and off the pitch exactly what Canadian character is. … I guarantee our team will be ready,” Marsch said.
CNN’s Don Riddell and Michael Rios contributed to this report | cnn_sports | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/sport/canada-jesse-marsch-president-trump-spt/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 349f16ea-8f72-5e5b-8a6d-92a1616d0e94 |
Canadian petition to revoke Elon Musk’s citizenship gathers more than 250,000 signatures | Max Saltman | More than 250,000 Canadian citizens and residents have signed a parliamentary petition urging Canada to revoke Elon Musk’s citizenship and passport.
Musk’s association with US President Donald Trump, who plans to levy a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports next month and who has proposed annexing the country as the 51st state, is “against the national interest of Canada,” the petitioners claim.
The tech billionaire, a citizen of South African, Canada, and the US, has become one of Trump’s most visible allies since the 47th president began his second term last month.
“He has used his wealth and power to influence our elections,” the petition claims. “He has now become a member of a foreign government that is attempting to erase Canadian sovereignty.”
In a response to news about the petition, Musk wrote on his social media network X that “Canada is not a real country.” CNN has reached out to Musk’s representatives for comment.
The petition, addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, demands that he “revoke Elon Musk’s dual citizenship status, and revoke his Canadian passport effective immediately.”
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While one expert told CNN that the government can’t revoke Musk’s legally obtained citizenship, the author of the petition says it should be seen as a “call to accountability.”
Musk, who was born in Pretoria, South Africa, has previously said that he obtained a Canadian passport as a teenager through his mother, Maye Musk, who was born in Canada. The billionaire later obtained US citizenship a decade after arriving in the US on a student visa.
An electronic parliamentary petition requires the initial support of at least five Canadians, the authorization of a member of parliament, and an initial review before it can start to gather signatures, according to Canada’s House of Commons.
The petition to revoke Musk’s citizenship is open until June 20, 2025, after which the clerk of petitions will have to certify that at least 500 of its signatures are legitimate. From there, the petition must wait until a new session of parliament opens before it can be presented to the House of Commons for debate.
Charlie Angus, a member of parliament from the left-wing New Democratic Party, is listed as the petition’s sponsor. CNN has reached out to Angus, as well as the petition’s author Qualia Reed, for comment.
Reed, a sci fi author from British Columbia, wrote Monday on social networking site Bluesky that they “never expected this petition to spread so far and so fast.” Reed also underlined to the petition’s growing number of supporters that it was not meant to be a personal attack.
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“To (be) clear, this action I started, and all of you are spreading and growing, isn’t about personal attacks,” Reed wrote, “It’s about ensuring that those who influence global policies and industries know that the people are not okay with their lack of ethical responsibility.”
Trump’s frequent voicing of his desire to make Canada the “51st state,” has gone as far as mocking Trudeau on social media as the “Governor” of Canada. In early February, Trudeau warned a gathering of private sector executives that Trump’s threat to annex Canada “is a real thing,” according to two business leaders who heard the prime minister’s remarks.
There are few precedents for citizenship revocation in Canada. Thousands of Japanese Canadians, including citizens, were “effectively denationalized” during World War II and deported back to Japan, according to University of Toronto law professor Audrey Macklin in a 2021 article for the Manitoba Law Review.
However, “Canada does not revoke citizenship that is lawfully obtained. This means that there is actually no way of revoking Elon Musk’s Canadian citizenship, unless he obtained it by fraud or misrepresentation,” Macklin told CNN.
A 2014 law called the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act previously included provisions to revoke citizenship if a dual-national Canadian was convicted of “national security offenses.”
Trudeau promised to repeal the law when he ran for prime minister. By 2017, the denaturalization provisions were removed, and a new law re-nationalized any Canadian stripped of their citizenship on national security grounds.
CNN’s Clare Duffy and Paula Newton contributed reporting. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/americas/canada-petition-musk-citizenship-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 8520a2ea-6837-526a-9490-3c0f25c868c8 |
Former CIA analyst David McCloskey: ‘The building doesn’t love you back.’ | Laura Jackson | Former CIA analyst David McCloskey takes readers inside the secretive world of intelligence in his latest spy novel, “The Seventh Floor”.
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/world/video/isabookclub-david-mccloskey-cia-analyst-the-seventh-floor | 2025-02-26 | 489f401f-67f6-515f-87e1-b5d22ee7d013 |
Luka Dončić takes revenge against his former team as Lakers defeat Mavericks | Kevin Dotson, Patrick Sung | Los Angeles is no stranger to glitz, glamor and massive sporting events, and Tuesday night was no exception as the Dallas Mavericks came to the City of Angels to face off against Luka Dončić and the Lakers.
It had only been three weeks since Dončić joined the Lakers from the Mavericks in a trade that sent shockwaves through the NBA, and fans were excited to see the Slovenian star face his former team for the first time – with the Lakers winning the game 107-99.
Though the atmosphere was electric at Crypto.com Arena, Dončić appeared calm, cool and collected before tipoff. The five-time All-Star was seen during warmups laughing and smiling with former teammate Spencer Dinwiddie then casually draining a shot from halfcourt.
It didn’t take long for Dončić to lock in once this “revenge game” tipped off. The 25-year-old star was assessed a technical foul for arguing with the officials less than three minutes into the game after he felt they missed a foul against him.
Dončić kept his focus though and finished the first quarter with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. After hitting a 3-pointer in the opening quarter, Dončić could be seen starting down his former coaches and teammates on the Dallas bench.
By halftime, Dončić was up to 12 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists with the Lakers leading 59-51.
While the Mavericks seemed focused on trying to quell their former superstar, the strategy left plenty of opportunities for Dončić’s new Laker teammates to shine. Austin Reaves dropped 20 points while the NBA’s all-time leading scorer LeBron James had a team-high 27 points for LA.
Dončić finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists, notching his first triple-double with Los Angeles.
After the win, Dončić was at a loss trying to explain the emotions of the night to broadcaster TNT.
“I don’t know how to explain it. I think in the first quarter, second quarter, I didn’t know what was happening,” Dončić said. “It was just different. I can’t even explain how I felt.”
“I can’t wait to go to sleep honestly,” Dončić later added. “I’m exhausted.”
While Dončić has previously said that he’s happy he joined the “greatest club in the world” and that it’s “a dream come true” to play with one of his heroes – four-time NBA champion James – some manner of revenge might be on the mind of the man who led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals before being traded away to LA, reportedly against his wishes.
The situation heading into Tuesday night was something both his old and new teammates and coaches seemed well aware of.
“The narrative is already written. I don’t know what else I could really add to that,” Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving said in his post-game press conference following Dallas’ 126-102 road loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Lakers coach JJ Redick said that he thought Dončić “will be fine” going up against his former team.
“Every day that he’s been with us, it’s becoming a little more normal,” added Redick. “I’ve been there. The first time you play your old team, particularly this close in time duration, it’s going to be weird. But he’ll be able to handle it.”
The game is also a homecoming of sorts for Anthony Davis, who was the other main piece of the blockbuster trade that brought Dončić to LA. Davis received a warm welcome from the Lakers faithful as the team honored him with a video tribute prior to the game.
Davis played five-and-a-half seasons for the Lakers and won a title in his first year with the team, as LA fans embraced “AD” as one of their own. The Mavs big man, though, has been out injured with a strained left adductor and watched Tuesday’s game from the bench in street clothes.
The Lakers are now a league-best 15-4 since January 15, according to the NBA, and 8-2 in their last 10, sitting fourth in the Western Conference. The injury-plagued Mavs, meanwhile, are 5-5 in their last 10 games, dropping the team to ninth in the West. | cnn_sports | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/sport/luka-doncic-la-lakers-dallas-mavericks-spt/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 2463e3be-5dbc-500b-92e7-fffa43490675 |
The US now considers these cartels and gangs terrorist groups. Here’s what to know about them | Max Saltman, Avery Schmitz, Sebastian Jimenez Valencia, Rocio Munoz-Ledo | Tren de Aragua, MS-13 and the Sinaloa cartel are among the two gangs and six drug cartels the US has officially designated as foreign terrorist organizations, fulfilling a long-standing goal from US President Donald Trump’s first term in office.
Trump previously ordered the US to declare cartels terrorist groups in a January 20 executive order, but until US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s official announcement on Thursday, none of the cartels had been specifically named. During his first term, Trump had considered a similar maneuver but refrained at the request of then-Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
In an order published in the federal government’s Public Register, Rubio named two gangs: Tren de Aragua of Venezuela and MS-13 of El Salvador; and six Mexican drug cartels: Cartel de Sinaloa, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, Carteles Unidos, Cartel del Noreste, Cartel del Golfo, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana.
They join the ranks of other groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the US, including ISIS, Boko Haram, and Hamas.
Here’s what you need to know about each of these groups:
Tren de Aragua began as a prison gang in Venezuela, according to the US Treasury Department, with much of their criminal enterprise focused “on human smuggling and other illicit acts that target desperate migrants.”
Also known as TdA, the group today has a presence far beyond its original stomping grounds. Óscar Naranjo, a former vice president of Colombia and chief of the Colombian National Police, told CNN in 2024 that Tren de Aragua is “the most disruptive criminal organization operating nowadays in Latin America.”
TdA became a political talking point during the last presidential campaign, after police in Aurora, Colorado, said several suspects in a 2023 kidnapping there were members of the gang. As he stumped for the presidency, Trump held up Aurora and Tren de Aragua as an example of what he said were migration’s inevitable results, claiming that the gang had taken control of vast swathes of territory in Colorado. Aurora police, however, pushed back, saying that the gang’s presence in the city was “isolated.”
For Trump, “cracking down on Tren de Aragua is part and parcel of cracking down on the era of mass migration,” said Will Freeman, a Latin America fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is a Salvadoran-American street gang and criminal organization, notorious for its brutality and its deep roots in the United States. MS-13 was a prominent theme of Trump’s first term, with the president often referring to the group as “violent animals.”
Unlike any of the other groups listed in Rubio’s order, MS-13 is technically native to the US. According to a history of MS-13 from InSight Crime, a think tank focused on organized crime in Latin America, a group of Salvadorans originally founded the group in 1980s Los Angeles.
In the following years, MS-13 began to grow and evolve as more Salvadorans arrived in the US, fleeing the civil war back home. Though the group began as a Salvadoran gang, according to a 2008 FBI threat assessment, its ranks have opened to others from Latin America, including Hondurans and Guatemalans. When US authorities began deporting members of MS-13 back to the region in the 1990s, it caused an explosion of gang activity in El Salvador and neighboring countries.
By 2015, El Salvador was the murder capital of the Western Hemisphere. Ten years later, however, the murder rate has plummeted. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has focused much of his time in office on curbing violence from gangs like MS-13, arresting nearly 1% of the country’s population and throwing thousands of gang members in prison.
MS-13’s addition to the designation list is a “curveball,” said Freeman.
“It’s a bit weird,” Freeman pointed out. “One of the main countries it drew its strength from was El Salvador. It’s really been dismantled there.”
The Cartel de Sinaloa or the Sinaloa Cartel is closely associated with its former leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, known for his numerous prison escapes and immortalized in rapper Gucci Mane’s 2012 single “El Chapo.” After the US extradited Guzmán from Mexico in 2017 and convicted him on 10 counts of federal drug-related crimes two years later, his sons – El Chapitos - partly took control of the group. The DEA alleged in a 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment that the Sinaloa Cartel operates with four different components cooperating without a single, formal leader.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the Sinaloa Cartel’s international presence is unmatched by any other Mexican criminal group, with a diverse empire of extortion rackets, weapons trading, prostitution and oil theft alongside their drug business. In 2023, former US Attorney General Merrick Garland alleged the Sinaloa Cartel operates the “largest, most violent, and most prolific fentanyl trafficking operation in the world.” In the same press release, the Justice Department alleged that the group is “largely responsible” for the manufacturing and importing of fentanyl for distribution in the US.
Known as the Gulf Cartel, or by its acronym CDG, the Cartel del Golfo is based in Matamoros, Mexico, just over the border from Brownsville, Texas. Authorities in Mexico and the US believe that CDG was responsible for the highly-publicized kidnapping of four American tourists in Matamoros in 2023. Two of the victims died during the incident, which one US official told CNN was likely a case of mistaken identity.
Journalist Ioan Grillo writes in his authoritative book “El Narco” that the Gulf Cartel got its start during the Prohibition era, smuggling heroin and whiskey over the border into the US. But it wasn’t until the 1990s and 2000s that CDG reached prominence under the stewardship of Osiel Cardenas Guillen.
Cardenas, whom Grillo describes as a “balding former car thief,” eventually enticed members of the Mexican Special Forces to join his syndicate as enforcers. Their unit eventually (and violently) branched off into Los Zetas Cartel in 2010, according to a 2022 report from the Congressional Research Service. Cardenas, meanwhile, was arrested and extradited to the US in 2007, where he was imprisoned. In 2024, the US handed him over to Mexico so he could stand trial on numerous charges there.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, is one of the “most powerful and ruthless criminal organizations” inside Mexico, according to the DEA’s 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment.
CJNG is led by Nemesio Oseguero Cervantes, a former police officer better known as El Mencho, according to InSight Crime. A Justice Department indictment of Oseguero says his organization is active in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Colima, and Veracruz, and has presences elsewhere.
The DEA alleges that the cartel “operates under a franchise business model,” allowing CJNG to rapidly expand and control significant swathes of narcotrafficking routes. Heavily involved in the production and trafficking of methamphetamine and fentanyl, the DEA claims that CJNG has deep connections with suppliers for chemical precursors in China. Jalisco exercises control over various maritime ports to import these chemical products and has an extensive network of smuggling routes.
In its latest incarnation, Cárteles Unidos formed in 2019 as an alliance of the Cartel of Tepalcatepec, Los Viagras, and other groups, with the shared goal of combatting CJNG and expelling them from Michoacán, according to InSight Crime.
Before disbanding, a prior version of the group formed in 2010 to stop the advance of the Zetas into Michoacán and Jalisco, InSight reports. It was composed of members from many organizations from the Sinaloa Cartel, the Knights Templar cartel, Milenio Cartel, and the Familia Michoacana.
The broader organization is led by Juan José Farías Álvarez, known as “El Abuelo,” the former leader of the self-defense group that fought the Knights Templar in Tierra Caliente. Carteles Unidos also is involved in growing avocados, one of Mexico’s chief exports. The cartel devotes significant energy to extorting avocado producers, and one recent report found that 80% of the avocado orchards in Michoacan were established illegally.
The Cartel del Noreste (CDN) operates primarily in northeast Mexico along the US border. The cartel emerged when Los Zetas – itself a spinoff of the Gulf Cartel - splintered after a series of high-profile leadership losses, according to InSight Crime.
A 2024 Justice Department indictment against several members of the organization accused CDN and Los Zetas of “using terroristic violence to control large swaths of Northern Mexico, including along the border between Mexico and the United States.”
In November 2024, Homeland Security said that the group was involved in smuggling migrants into the US, claiming that “in recent years it has added human smuggling to its list of illicit money-making operations, with Facebook and social media becoming invaluable tools to facilitate its new venture.”
According to the US Treasury, La Nueva Familia Michoacana is led by José Alfredo and Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga with a presence in Michoacán, Guerrero, and the state of Mexico. The US State Department has alleged that the organization is involved in “migrant smuggling” into the US, alongside the fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine trades.
The group’s founder, Nazario “El Chayo” Moreno, was known for preaching Bible verses and self-help phrases to the members of his organization, according to the Mexican attorney general’s office. Moreno famously “died” twice: Mexican authorities initially claimed they killed him in 2010 but couldn’t produce an image of his dead body. The official story drew suspicion up through 2014, when Mexico’s Public Security System said he was shot and killed during a raid, acknowledging their previous announcement was incorrect. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/22/americas/us-cartels-terrorist-explainer-latam-intl/index.html | 2025-02-22 | 4f436042-0d73-5e68-84ac-d8a2013e21ae |
South Korea’s birth rate rose for the first time in 9 years. Is the world’s lowest fertility rate on the rebound? | Reuters | South Korea’s fertility rate rose in 2024 for the first time in nine years, supported by an increase in marriages, preliminary data showed on Wednesday, in a sign that the country’s demographic crisis might have turned a corner.
The country’s fertility rate, the average number of babies a woman is expected to have during her reproductive life, stood at 0.75 in 2024, according to Statistics Korea.
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In 2023, the birthrate fell for the eighth consecutive year to 0.72, the lowest in the world, from 1.24 in 2015, raising concerns over the economic shock to society from such a rapid pace.
Since 2018, South Korea has been the only member of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) with a rate below 1.
South Korea has rolled out various measures to encourage young people to get married and have children, after now suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a “national demographic crisis” and a plan to create a new ministry devoted to tackling low birth rates.
“There was a change in social value, with more positive views about marriage and childbirth,” Park Hyun-jung, an official at Statistics Korea, told a briefing, also citing the impact of a rise in the number of people in their early 30s and pandemic delays.
“It is difficult to measure how much each factor contributed to the rise in new births, but they themselves had an impact on each other too,” Park said.
Marriages, a leading indicator of new births, jumped 14.9% in 2024, the biggest spike since the data started being released in 1970. Marriages turned up for the first time in 11 years in 2023 with a 1.0% increase powered by a post-pandemic boost.
In the Asian country, there is a high correlation between marriages and births, with a time lag of one or two years, as marriage is often seen as a prerequisite to having children.
Across the country, the birthrate last year was the lowest in the capital, Seoul, at 0.58.
The latest data showed there were 120,000 more people who died last year than those who were newly born, marking the fifth consecutive year of the population naturally shrinking. The administrative city of Sejong was the only major centre where population grew.
South Korea’s population, which hit a peak of 51.83 million in 2020, is expected to shrink to 36.22 million by 2072, according to the latest projection by the statistics agency. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/asia/south-korea-birthrate-rises-for-first-time-in-9-years-intl-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 5a4f353d-90b7-563d-8e4f-d39bef9d680e |
Pope Francis is sitting up in hospital and receiving treatment, Vatican says | Antonia Mortensen, Christopher Lamb, Hira Humayun, Lauren Kent | Pope Francis is “sitting in an armchair today and continuing with his treatment” for pneumonia, a Vatican source said Wednesday.
In a medical update later in the day, the Vatican said the 88-year-old pontiff has shown a “further, slight improvement” and that mild kidney issues announced over the weekend have receded.
Francis has been hospitalized for over a week. Despite slight signs of improvement, his “prognosis remains guarded,” according to the Vatican. He continues to receive high flows of oxygen, but did not suffer any asthmatic respiratory attacks on Wednesday, the Vatican said. The news comes a day after the Vatican said the pope remains in “critical” but stable condition.
The pope was first admitted to a clinic in Rome on February 14, undergoing tests for a respiratory tract infection. He was later diagnosed with pneumonia as fears grew about his condition.
In recent days, the Vatican has offered several signs of cautious optimism. Francis was “awake” and “in good humor” on Monday, the Vatican said, adding that he received the Eucharist and worked in the afternoon. That evening, he called the Parish Priest of the Parish of Gaza, with whom he has been in frequent contact since Israel launched its siege on the enclave following the October 7 Hamas-led attacks.
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Francis also met with two senior Vatican officials on Monday – Cardinal Parolin, the Holy See secretary of state, and Archbishop Peña Parra, whose position as “substitute” is equivalent to the chief of staff – according to a Vatican statement.
The two top officials were the first known visitors from the church’s central administration that Francis has had since the start of his hospitalization, apart from his secretaries. He did not meet with anyone apart from his secretaries on Tuesday, Vatican sources said.
Faith leaders and worshippers around the world have gathered to pray for the Argentine leader, whose schedule has been largely cleared due to his intensive medical treatment. Notably, Francis did not deliver the weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday – for only the third time in his almost 12-year papacy.
The pope’s cousin Carla Rabezzana, 93, who lives in the municipality of Portacomaro, in the northwestern Italian province of Asti, said the family is worried for his health.
“We are all worried sick. We hope he will recover quickly and get over this bad moment. I follow everything from the news, I am very agitated,” she told the Italian state outlet RAI on Monday.
The pope appears to be recovering from what the Vatican said on Sunday was a “mild renal failure, which is currently under control.”
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt from Orlando Health Medical Group Urology, who specializes in kidney surgery, told CNN people should not be alarmed by the Vatican’s weekend update on the pope’s kidney health.
“I don’t think it’s anything significant per se, but we can tell his condition is still quite critical,” Brahmbhatt said on Sunday. “The kidneys itself are very delicate organs but they’re also very resilient.”
He said that in older adults, “infections can quickly worsen if the body’s immune response kicks into overdrive — something we call sepsis.” When pneumonia leads to sepsis, widespread inflammation can hurt multiple organs, including the kidneys, Brahmbhatt added.
“In Pope Francis’ case, that’s showing up as mild renal failure. Kidney damage can be temporary and improve with treatment, or it can be permanent,” he said.
Francis took part in the Holy Mass from the apartment set up on the 10th floor of Gemelli hospital on Sunday morning, the Vatican said. Those taking care of him during his hospitalization also took part. The pope thanked medical staff for their dedication in the text of Sunday’s sermon, which was sent to the press in advance.
Francis has a vulnerability to respiratory infections. As a young man, he suffered a severe bout of pneumonia that led to the removal of part of one lung.
In 2021, doctors also surgically removed part of his colon in relation to diverticulitis, which can cause inflammation or infection of the colon. He was hospitalized with bronchitis in 2023, and in recent months has had two falls where he bruised his chin and hurt his arm, which was put into a sling.
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The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the seat of Sunni Islamic learning in Cairo, Egypt, has been praying for Francis. The pair have forged a close bond in recent years.
“I pray to God to grant my dear brother Pope Francis a swift recovery and to bless him with health and well-being so that he continues his journey in serving humanity,” the Grand Imam, Ahmed El-Tayeb, said.
US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron wished the pope well during their Monday meeting at the White House.
“We want him to get well. It’s a very serious situation but we want him to get well, if that’s possible,” Trump said.
This story has been updated with new reporting.
CNN’s Barbie Latza Nadeau and Sharon Braithwaite contributed reporting. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/23/europe/pope-francis-hospital-kidney-intl-latam/index.html | 2025-02-23 | ef9a5727-1723-511f-94ce-ab10ffb792d0 |
Israelis line streets ahead of Bibas family funeral | Aria Chen | Mourners in Israel gathered on the streets to pay tributes ahead of the funeral of Shiri Bibas and her two young sons Kfir and Ariel, who were taken hostage in the October 7 Hamas-led attack and killed in Gaza.
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_world | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/world/video/israel-bibas-hostage-funeral-procession-digvid | 2025-02-26 | 118ddbac-652f-55eb-8a0d-321cb805af23 |
Search location by ZIP code | , | The state plans to help federal employees looking for a new job after recent layoffs. This Friday, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions will host a recruitment event.
"It's open to anyone who's looking to make that change and just wanting to provide for their family," Michelle Velarde, the division director of employment services operations for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, said.
According to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, as of Monday, 140 initial unemployment insurance claims have been filed by former federal government workers with the majority of those claims in Albuquerque.
"Bring that resume, and if it's not exactly where it needs to be, we can always help. " Velarde said. "Our offices can help individuals with resumes."
The department also says several prominent employers plan to attend Friday's event.
"We're going to have the City of Albuquerque present," Velarde said. "We're also going to have the city of Rio Rancho present, and we'll have some of our state agencies present."
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham even expressed excitement about Friday's upcoming event.
“We are committed to ensuring that New Mexicans who have been abruptly dismissed from federal jobs have the resources and support they need to transition smoothly into new career opportunities,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “Our state agencies and partners are mobilizing to provide job assistance, education, and training to help our workforce thrive.”
Friday's events will be at the Workforce Connection Center on Mountain Rd. in Albuquerque. Another will happen in Santa Fe at the Santa Fe Workforce Connection on Camino Los Marquez from 2 p.m. through 5 p.m. There will also be recruitment events happening next Friday in Carlsbad and Las Cruces. | cnn_us | https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-plans-to-help-federal-employees-looking-for-a-new-job/63924036 | 2025-02-25 | 7cccbf26-d6a9-5343-b8ac-70648d3962e9 |
National Park Service withdraws Black community in Louisiana from historic landmark consideration | Unknown | A Louisiana landscape of centuries-old sugar cane plantations and enduring Afro-Creole culture along the Mississippi River had been eligible for receiving rare federal protection following a multi-year review by the National Park Service.
But this month, the agency withdrew the 11-mile (18-kilometer) stretch of land known as Great River Road from consideration for National Historic Landmark designation at the request of state officials, who celebrated the move as a win for economic development.
Community organizations bemoaned the decision as undermining efforts to preserve the rich yet endangered cultural legacies of free African American communities that grew out of slavery.
The region, in the heart of Louisiana’s heavily industrialized Chemical Corridor in St. John the Baptist Parish, has been at the center of conflicts between grassroots community groups challenging the expansion of polluting industrial facilities and officials and business leaders doubling down on their importance for sustaining local economies. The area is among the most threatened by climate injustice in the nation, according to the Environmental Defense Fund’s climate vulnerability index.
Ashley Rogers, executive director of the nearby Whitney Plantation, said the decision to remove the Great River Road region from consideration for federally granted recognition was due to the “changing priorities” of the Trump administration, the latest blow to “a culture under attack.”
“It’s 100% because of the politics of the current administration, it’s not because we’ve suddenly decided that this place doesn’t matter,” Rogers said.
A multi-year National Park Service study on the area completed in October concluded that the “exceptional integrity” of the Great River Road landscape conveys “the feeling of living and working in the plantation system in the American South.”
Plantation buildings are so well-preserved that director Quentin Tarantino used them while filming “Django Unchained,” to capture the antebellum era. But there’s also a rich and overlooked history of the enslaved people who worked the plantations, their burial sites likely hidden in the surrounding cane fields and many of their descendants still living in tight-knit communities nearby.
The study deemed the region eligible to gain the same federal recognition as around 2,600 of the nation’s most important historical sites, including Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate and Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s residence.
However, the determination was “premature and untimely” given that a grain terminal that threatened to impact historic properties was no longer planned, said the National Park Service’s Joy Beasley, who oversees the designation of historic landmarks, in a Feb. 13 letter to the Army Corps of Engineers.
Beasley’s letter stated the reversal was prompted by a request from the state’s Department of Environmental Quality, which is tasked with regulating environmental protection and has made no secret of its support for industrial expansion.
The head of the department, Aurelia S. Giacometto, framed the decision as freeing the region from federal meddling and oversight and opening up pathways for development.
“I’m grateful that the Trump Administration understands that states and localities are better at determining their interests relating to clean air, water and developing industry than leaving crucial decisions like those to Washington,” Giacometto said in a statement.
Port of South Louisiana CEO Paul Matthew said in a press release that companies are clamoring to develop and expand along the Mississippi River, which would improve quality of life and spur economic growth without sacrificing cultural legacies.
“If you really want to lift people out of poverty, you get them work and increase job opportunity,” Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said.
Local historical and community organizations believe the region can instead improve its economy by focusing on preserving and promoting its history.
Ramshackled homes and shuttered buildings in the area are endemic of longstanding underinvestment in these communities, but it’s not too late to reverse this trend through means besides industrialization, said Joy Banner, co-founder of the local nonprofit The Descendants Project, which is restoring historical properties in Great River Road.
Banner helped lead efforts to successfully halt the construction of a towering $600 million industrial grain terminal that would have been built in her hometown, the predominantly Black community of Wallace — spurring the National Park Service’s study. A spokesperson for the Army Corps of Engineers said any future industrial development in the Great River Road would still need to consider the potential impacts on historical and cultural heritage.
In the region’s Willow Grove neighborhood, 76-year-old Isabella Poche still trims the grass and repaints the tombs at the cemetery where her mother, sisters and other relatives were buried with help from the Black community’s generations-old mutual aid society she now leads. Beyond the furrows of the sugar cane fields where her family once worked, a large plantation home stands in the distance by the river’s bank. It’s a peaceful place she hopes to see protected.
“I don’t want to move anywhere else,” Poche said. “I’ve been here all my life.” | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/us/national-park-service-withdraws-great-river-road-landmark/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 454d83e6-55f5-5005-93f4-2ee01783d637 |
Federal workers fear job cuts, service disruptions amid Elon Musk’s DOGE push | Hanna Park, Rafael Romo | Federal employees are raising alarms over Elon Musk’s push to reshape the US government, an effort now compounded by a weekend directive for workers to justify their jobs in writing. The mounting pressure has left many in the federal workforce feeling vulnerable.
Latisha Thompson, a clinical social worker with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Philadelphia, is among those crying foul over a Saturday email from the Office of Personnel Management that instructs workers to submit a list of tasks they performed on the job in the past week.
Thompson called the request “insulting and disrespectful” – not to mention possibly problematic for the privacy of the US veterans she works with in her job.
“I provide direct care to our veterans and there’s a lot of sensitive information about their health conditions that could be a part of what I do every day, and we do not intend on jeopardizing that integrity with this email,” Thompson said.
Musk, who has been tasked by President Donald Trump with reforming the federal government, announced the email was coming in a statement on X. Musk said failing to respond to the email would be “taken as a resignation,” though the email itself made no mention of that.
“Federal workers have no problem sharing what we do with the American public, but we do not respond or work for any individual entities, especially not tech billionaires like Elon Musk,” Thompson told CNN.
Thompson said she plans to follow guidance from her agency and union, the American Federation of Government Employees, on what to do with the email.
A host of major federal agencies, including the Pentagon, Federal Bureau of Investigation, State Department, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Energy, have instructed their staff not to reply to the email, with many pointing to existing agency systems for measuring employee performance.
Thompson predicts major impacts to the services the US government provides if broader efforts to slash the federal workforce come to fruition. Others across the country are echoing that warning, notably at US national parks.
In Ohio, fresh job cuts on top of a standing hiring freeze at Cuyahoga Valley National Park is squeezing resources ahead of a busy time for visitors, CNN affiliate WEWS reported.
“We’ve chronically underfunded our national parks, and now losing key staff positions at the same time we’re seeing more visitation is a problem locally and across the country,” said Deb Yandala, president and CEO of the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a non-profit.
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In Arizona, about 10% of US Forest Service workers have been impacted by recent job cuts, according to Matt Nelson, executive director of the non-profit Arizona Trail Association, which partners with federal workers to maintain trails.
“Without those people helping to safeguard these places and care for them, all of us are going to suffer,” Nelson told CNN affiliate KGUN.
CNN reported earlier this month that thousands of US Forest Service jobs are being cut nationwide.
A USDA spokesperson defended cuts in Arizona, describing them as necessary to eliminate wasteful spending.
“We have a solemn responsibility to be good stewards of the American people’s hard-earned taxpayer dollars,” the spokesperson told KGUN. The agency claimed all terminated positions were probationary, but Nelson disputed that, saying many affected employees were seasoned professionals.
At Yosemite National Park, some workers faced abrupt and ill-explained firings this month.
Andria Townsend, a specialist on carnivore species, was working late on a Friday, logging overtime as she often did, when an email landed in her inbox at nearly 10 p.m., CNN affiliate KFSN reported.
The content was as abrupt as it was devastating: She had been terminated effective immediately. Attached was a termination notice, citing her probationary status – she had been in her current role for less than a year – and claiming her “skills and knowledge did not meet the current needs of the administration.”
“I was given no time to reach out to colleagues or even clean out my office,” Townsend told KFSN. “It made me really angry. I work really hard at my job. I have two degrees … and to be told that I’m not meeting the standards of my job – it’s a complete lie.”
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“What this means is that people who are already overworked and underpaid will now have to take on even more work,” she told the outlet.
The staffing crisis at Yosemite drew public attention on Saturday when an upside-down American flag – a symbol of distress – was unfurled at the park’s Horsetail Fall. The site, which attracts visitors for its annual Firefall display, has become a focal point for protests against the cuts.
“We’re bringing attention to what’s happening to the parks, which are every American’s properties,” Gavin Carpenter, a maintenance mechanic who helped hang the flag, told the San Francisco Chronicle on Saturday.
For workers like Thompson and Townsend, the uncertainty is already disrupting their ability to serve veterans, protect public lands and steward the environment.
As Thompson put it, “We’re here to serve the American public, not private interests.” | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/24/us/federal-workers-fear-job-cuts-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-24 | b3507cf4-7340-5d13-9187-4d2dd5f4c546 |
Jeff Bezos announces ‘significant shift’ coming to the Washington Post. A key editor is leaving because of it | Liam Reilly | Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos on Wednesday announced a “significant shift” to the publisher’s opinion page that led David Shipley, the paper’s editorial page editor, to leave the paper. The changes upended precedent and rattled a media company that has already been shaken by years of turmoil and leadership turnover.
As part of the overhaul, the Post will publish daily opinion stories on two editorial “pillars”: personal liberties and free markets, Bezos teased in an X post on Wednesday morning after announcing the change in a company-wide email. The Post’s opinion section will cover other subjects, too, Bezos wrote, but “viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”
“I’m confident that free markets and personal liberties are right for America,” Bezos wrote. “I also believe these viewpoints are underserved in the current market of ideas and news opinion. I’m excited for us together to fill that void.”
In announcing the shift, the billionaire media mogul championed the changes as based in American principles anchored in “freedom.” This freedom, Bezos emphasized, “is ethical — it minimizes coercion — and practical — it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity.”
As a basis for the change, Bezos noted that legacy opinion sections have become outdated and have been replaced by the internet.
“There was a time when a newspaper, especially one that was a local monopoly, might have seen it as a service to bring to the reader’s doorstep every morning a broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views,” Bezos said via X. “Today, the internet does that job.”
Bezos also shared that David Shipley, the Post’s editorial page editor, would part ways with the company. Shipley had been offered a role in leading Bezos’ planned changes but decided to step away instead.
“I offered David Shipley, whom I greatly admire, the opportunity to lead this new chapter,” Bezos wrote on X. “I suggested to him that if the answer wasn’t ‘hell yes,’ then it had to be ‘no.’ After careful consideration, David decided to step away. This is a significant shift, it won’t be easy, and it will require 100% commitment — I respect his decision.”
Bezos said the Post will search for a new opinion editor to “own” the paper’s new editorial direction.
In an email to the Post’s editorial team obtained by CNN, Shipley noted his decision to leave the publisher was reached “after reflection on how I can best move forward in the profession I love.”
“I will always be thankful for the opportunity I was given to work alongside a team of opinion journalists whose commitment to strong, innovative, reported commentary inspired me every day — and was affirmed by two Pulitzer Prizes and two Loeb Awards in two short years,” Shipley wrote in the email.
Shipley’s departure comes after spending four months navigating increasing criticism of the Post from subscribers and its own journalists. During that time, he defended the Post’s decision to not run a cartoon from Ann Telnaes that featured Jeff Bezos – and led to her resignation.
“Not every editorial judgment is a reflection of a malign force,” Shipley said in January. “My decision was guided by the fact that we had just published a column on the same topic as the cartoon and had already scheduled another column — this one a satire — for publication. The only bias was against repetition.”
Bezos’ announcement was immediately met with hostility by some Post staffers who publicly took issue with the move.
Jeff Stein, the publisher’s chief economics reporter, called the overhaul a “massive encroachment by Jeff Bezos” that makes it clear “dissenting views will not be published or tolerated there.”
“I still have not felt encroachment on my journalism on the news side of coverage, but if Bezos tries interfering with the news side I will be quitting immediately and letting you know,” Stein said on X.
Amanda Katz, who stepped down from her role on the Post’s opinion team at the end of 2024, called the change “an absolute abandonment of the principles of accountability of the powerful, justice, democracy, human rights, and accurate information that previously animated the section in favor of a white male billionaire’s self-interested agenda.” And columnist Philip Bump, who pens the Post’s weekly “How to Read This Chart” newsletter, pithily said “what the actual f**k” on Bluesky.
Meanwhile, conservatives are celebrating Bezos’ changes. Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder, hailed the change as “the culture (…)changing rapidly for the better.” And Elon Musk, whose SpaceX is a direct rival of Bezos’ Blue Origins, succinctly applauded on X, saying “Bravo, @JeffBezos!”
Following the transformation’s internal announcement, Will Lewis, the paper’s publisher and chief executive, noted in an internal email obtained by CNN that the “recalibrate(ion)” was “not about siding with any political party,” but, rather, about “being crystal clear about what we stand for as a newspaper.”
“Doing this is a critical part of serving as a premier news publication across America and for all Americans,” Lewis wrote to Post staffers.
As Shipley exits the Post on Friday, Lewis said he would put together an interim arrangement, adding that the editorial page editor’s replacement would be announced in “due course” — and be “someone who is wholehearted in their support for free markets and personal liberties.”
In the early afternoon, Matt Murray, the Post’s executive editor, chimed in to respond to the “questions” he had received from concerned staffers. In an email obtained by CNN, Murray toed Bezos’ line, reminding staffers that opinion sections are “traditionally the provenance of the owner at news organizations.”
“The independent and unbiased work of The Post’s newsroom remains unchanged, and we will continue to pursue engaging, impactful journalism without fear or favor,” Murray wrote.
Though Murray and Lewis have supported Bezos’ transformation with staffers, New York magazine reports that Lewis’ tune is quite different behind the scenes, having warned Bezos that the changes would likely negatively impact the publication.
Already, Lewis’ private predictions appear to be manifesting. Since the announcement, two former top Post editors have come out against the move. As reported by the Daily Beast, Marty Baron, the Post’s former executive editor, said he was “sad and disgusted” by Bezos’ demands, emphasizing that the Amazon and Blue Origin founder “has prioritized those commercial interests over The Post, and he is betraying The Post’s longstanding principles to do so.”
Meanwhile, Cameron Barr, a former senior managing editor for the Post, said in a LinkedIn post that he would end his “professional association” with the newspaper, saying Bezos’ changes represent “an unacceptable erosion of its commitment to publishing a healthy diversity of opinion and argument.” And David Maraniss, a longtime Post editor and Pulitzer Prize winner, said on Bluesky that he would “never write for (the Post) again as long as (Bezos is) the owner.”
The divisive overhaul comes months after Bezos blocked the opinion page’s endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris at the eleventh hour, ending decades of precedent. Shipley was among the chorus of voices that sought to convince Bezos not to bar the endorsement, telling staffers in October that “I failed” to do just that.
Since Bezos’ action to block the op-ed, a chain reaction has hounded the Post, with 250,000 Post readers canceling their subscriptions and several opinion staffers resigning in protest. The Post has also hemorrhaged reporters, who have signed with rival publications rather than remain at the ailing outlet.
The massive changeup comes months after Bezos admitted in his defense of the op-ed block that his Amazon and Blue Origin business interests have served as a “complexifier for the Post.”
In the run-up to November’s election, Silicon Valley media moguls were seen cozying up to then-candidate Donald Trump, hedging their bets in the event of a conservative presidential victory. Critics said Bezos was trying to change the Post’s editorial strategy to gain favorability with Trump, who has grown close to Elon Musk, whose SpaceX is a direct rival of Bezos’ own business. Bezos pushed back on those accusations in a rare October op-ed.
“When it comes to the appearance of conflict, I am not an ideal owner of The Post,” Bezos wrote. “You can see my wealth and business interests as a bulwark against intimidation, or you can see them as a web of conflicting interests.”
“Only my own principles can tip the balance from one to the other,” he wrote in October.
Bezos’ “appearance of conflict” is issued from his numerous holdings, which include his Amazon and spacefaring company, Blue Origin. Bezos’ Amazon is also still facing a lawsuit from the FTC and 17 states, who accuse the company of abusing its economic dominance and harming fair competition.
Bezos attended President Trump’s January inauguration. Although Bezos was not the only tech billionaire present, his attendance as the Post’s owner did little to dispel the appearance of conflict.
Most recently, the Post opted to not publish an anti-Musk wrap ad for its print edition; while the Post did greenlight an internal anti-Musk ad, it has not yet clarified the grounds on which the wrap was denied and did not comment when asked whether Bezos was involved with the decision.
Post staffers also have for some time also been discontented with Bezos over his appointment of Lewis as publisher and chief executive. After taking the top job in early 2024, reports quickly emerged of Lewis’ involvement in several controversies, including accusations that he used fraudulent and unethical methods to acquire reporting for articles while working at the Sunday Times. Lewis also came under fire for allegedly attempting to kill a story about his alleged involvement in the phone hacking scandal coverup. Lewis has denied the accusations.
Dissatisfaction with Lewis reached a peak in June, when two Pulitzer Prize-winning Post journalists called for a leadership change amid the reports that questioned Lewis’ journalistic integrity, undermining the Post’s reputation and reporting alike.
Though, as Murray notes, the opinion section is the “provenance” of the Post’s owner — meaning Bezos — the billionaire’s last change resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of subscribers, worsening the Post’s financial woes. As the overhaul exacerbates longstanding issues at the storied publication and current and former Post staffers publicly decry the changes, the Post appears to find itself in an emergency.
CNN’s Brian Stelter contributed to this report. | cnn_business | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/media/washington-post-opinion-jeff-bezos-david-shipley/index.html | 2025-02-26 | e7d6fcbf-aa36-5bd8-9a84-064bde010bbd |
Their Colorado community burned to the ground three years ago. Now they’re helping victims of LA wildfires | Alicia Wallace | A day before New Year’s Eve 2021, the wind-driven Marshall Fire quickly tore through neighborhoods and cul-de-sacs in a quiet suburban community northwest of Denver, Colorado.
Melanie Glover was stuck in traffic at the time the fire was raging, her husband and children trapped in their burning home. Glover sat helpless in the car on the phone with her family as they made desperate attempts to put out the flames before narrowly escaping.
It took weeks for the initial shock to wear off, but then the trauma just settled in even deeper, roosting within her.
Glover tried her best to endure on her own by drawing from her past experiences — notably living in Hurricane Alley and seeing communities rebuild after Category 3 and 4 storms — but it was not enough. What ultimately ended up helping her move forward in those early weeks were hearing the lived experiences of survivors of another “wildland-urban interface” fire that happened a decade earlier in the state: The Waldo Canyon Fire on the northwest side of Colorado Springs.
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Three years later, that role has reversed.
Glover and hundreds of other Marshall Fire survivors have gathered in Facebook groups, on Instagram, Slack and other online spaces to serve as resources and share lessons learned and best practices with Los Angeles-area residents who are in the early stages of recovering from the highly destructive and deadly urban wildfires a month ago.
“It’s very important that people get the support and love that they need in the first few months after a fire,” Glover told CNN. “And, of course, everyone feels like they get forgotten about. It’s the nature of a natural disaster: We just move on to the next one and then the next one.”
“But it’s the community that doesn’t forget, and that’s who comes together and supports you in the long term,” she added.
About a week after the Palisades and Eaton fires, Julie DiBiase, a Boulder resident who lived in LA for 20 years, started the “From the Mountains to the Beach” Facebook group to serve as a bridge between Marshall Fire victims and those affected by the fires in California.
“From the Mountains to the Beach” has grown to more than 1,400 members.
“The group I created is really intended to be a survivor-to-survivor advice group,” DiBiase said. “There are a zillion lists out there where you can go get information about different resources for people who have experienced loss; but there’s something different and unique to having gone through it and really understanding others.”
Pasadena resident Anna Ballou happened across DiBiase’s Facebook group when furiously searching online, consuming any bit of information she could about next steps in recovering from a wildfire.
The Eaton Fire came just hundreds of feet from the single-family rental that Ballou and her family had called home for the past eight years. The property was seemingly spared by the fire; however, it was caked in a cocktail of soot, ash and other unknown chemicals from firefighting efforts and burned homes.
“We’re all afraid of the toxicity and how it could affect our health,” she said. “I do think that people who are renting with intact homes is an awkward category. You’re at somebody else’s mercy. You have to live at that home, and they don’t.”
Via the Facebook group, Ballou was able to to communicate directly with others who navigated this type of situation three years earlier — including some who are still in back-and-forths with their insurance company and remediation firms.
“It’s so bittersweet,” Ballou said, “but because of [the Marshall Fire survivors], we’re much more educated about what steps to take.”
Altadena resident Kate Adams Barnett, who also has health concerns as to the safety of her family’s rental home, was able to bond with another single mom who navigated similar issues in the Marshall Fire.
“It’s really hard when you have kids and you’re the decisionmaker and their health is at risk,” Adams Barnett said. “She actually gave me a lot of hope and courage and told me to reach out to her anytime. She’d been through exactly what I was going through.”
When DiBiase started the survivor-to-survivor group, she took inspiration from another group formed in the immediate wake of the Marshall Fire.
The Marshall Fire Community Facebook group, which was started by Colorado resident Meryl Suissa as a direct donor-to-survivor exchange group, not only remains active to this day, but Suissa also duplicated the concept for California survivors in need.
“The most important takeaways I have from falling into disaster recovery, and the main thing we have all learned over the past three years and what I am hoping to impart on to those affected by the California fires is that the majority of recovery comes from the people, the community,” she said.
“It’s the community that steps up and gives individual physical donations and monetary donations, it is the small businesses and religious and nonprofit organizations that show up in a big way,” she added.
Suissa’s main role with the California fire recovery efforts is to serve in more of an advisory and resource compilation capacity while using hindsight from what worked and what didn’t three years ago and also adapting to unique needs of the LA community (including co-founding a Judaica replacement program).
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She said it’s her hope that these and others’ grassroots efforts, including the formation of the Extreme Weather Survivors network, could help people in the future.
“We need one central location where survivors know to go for information post disaster, they know it is a trusted group who’s done this before and we aren’t reinventing the wheel time and time again,” Suissa wrote via email. “After every disaster there needs to be one place that is a central hub for donors and distribution sites to contact, that creates a website and sends a weekly email regarding logistical updates such as debris removal, town hall meetings, et cetera, that creates a Slack group, and that creates a Facebook group that is a ‘buy nothing’ post-fire group.”
In the near term, Marshall Fire survivors like Glover hope to continue to share their experiences and actions to help LA residents move forward and rebuild.
Glover, for example, is sharing how she rebuilt her Louisville, Colorado, home using Colorado Earth’s EcoBlox, which are made from earth and clay and other fire-resistant and sustainable materials.
She’s also conducting research as to how Earth homes can be adapted to meet California-specific building regulations.
“When people think ‘Earth home,’ people think of these crazy, weird, very eccentric things,” Glover said. “And what I tried to prove is I wanted to build a cookie-cutter home in a cookie-cutter neighborhood that actually isn’t a cookie-cutter home.”
“And I did it.”
In sharing her rebuilding efforts, Glover said she’s found a way to drive her “pain into purpose,” a concept she heard several years ago from yoga teacher and activist Seane Corn.
“Her words were, ‘find your pain, and you find your purpose in life,’” Glover said. “My pain was being completely out of control of what was happening to my family. That was my pain, and so then it gave me a purpose: Now I see that I want to talk to people about rebuilding this way, because I feel it’s really important that people know there are other options.” | cnn_business | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/economy/fire-advice-lifeline-colorado-california-wildfires/index.html | 2025-02-26 | fd864c2e-6102-5db0-a0d2-baede25ee940 |
What is Medicaid and why is it a Republican target for cuts? | Zachary Wolf, Tami Luhby | A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.
It might be hard to get super interested in the back and forth of the budget bills bouncing around Capitol Hill, but they could have huge consequences for Americans’ everyday lives.
House Republicans found a way to start the ball rolling Tuesday by convincing all but one Republican to buy into a budget bill, the first step in a process, exempt from the filibuster in the Senate, to extend trillions in expiring tax cuts originally passed during the first Trump administration.
But in order to offset those tax cuts, Republicans need to find cuts. One option being seriously considered is to squeeze up to $880 billion from federal programs over 10 years, including Medicaid. The House and Senate will come up with dueling proposals.
Democrats won’t be voting for Medicaid cuts any time soon and even Republicans talk about their support for the program, by which states use federal dollars to help offer health insurance to their low-income residents.
In Missouri, for instance, more than one-fifth of the population is on Medicaid, so conservative Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, doesn’t want to see cuts, at least not for people who are working.
“Anything that slashes into benefits for people who are working, I’m not going to be for, and I think that’s probably going to be true for a lot of my colleagues,” he told CNN’s Manu Raju on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump has also promised repeatedly not to cut Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security and he bristled when a reporter asked him about it during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday.
“I have said it so many times you shouldn’t be asking me that question. Okay. This won’t be ‘read my lips,’” Trump said, referring to the infamous flip-flop that may have cost President George H.W. Bush reelection in 1992. He pledged – “read my lips” – that he wouldn’t raise taxes. But then, in order to address an untenable government spending situation, Bush went back on that promise.
Trump did leave himself major wiggle room.
“Now, we are going to look for fraud. I’m sure you’re okay with that,” he said.
I went to CNN’s Tami Luhby to get her expert input on what Medicaid is, how it’s funded, and what changes to the program would mean. Our conversation, conducted by email, is below.
Medicaid is a key component of the nation’s social safety net. It provides health insurance to low-income Americans who meet the eligibility criteria, and there is no cap on enrollment, unlike some other public assistance programs.
More than 72 million people have health insurance through Medicaid – that’s more than one in five Americans. It covers children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, parents and adults without dependents.
In addition, more than 7.2 million children are enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program, because their families’ incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid.
Medicaid provides health insurance for about two in five children and also covers about 40% of all births, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group. It also covers more than 60% of nursing home residents and nearly 30% of non-elderly adults with mental illness, as well as about one in three people with disabilities. Plus, it pays for substance abuse treatment.
Medicaid coverage varies widely by state, both in terms of benefits and eligibility criteria.
All states must cover certain benefits, but they can also add additional ones, such as prescription drugs, vision and dental services and home care. Some are also broadening their benefits to cover housing and certain food.
Income limits also differ by state. Forty states, plus the District of Columbia, have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act – allowing adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level to qualify. That’s about $21,600 for an individual or about $44,400 for a family of four in 2025.
In non-expansion states, the income caps can also vary. For instance, the limit for parents in a family of three ranges from 15% of the federal poverty level in Texas to 105% in Tennessee, according to KFF.
Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal government and states. The federal government provides a 90% match for enrollees in Medicaid expansion, while the match for traditional beneficiaries varies based on a state’s per capita income, with a minimum match of 50%.
Some states also charge enrollees nominal copays for certain services.
Medicaid spending totaled $880 billion in fiscal year 2023, with the federal government picking up about 69% of the costs and states about 31%. It accounts for nearly one in five dollars spent on health care in the US.
Republicans have long sought to shrink Medicaid, particularly for the expansion population. In addition to thinking the program is rife with waste, fraud and abuse, many feel that able-bodied adults should work in exchange for receiving government assistance.
The House and Senate GOP bills differ greatly in terms of potential cuts to Medicaid, with the House looking at much, much deeper reductions.
We don’t have concrete proposals yet, but House Republicans floated a menu of options earlier this year that could cut a few trillion dollars from the program. Among the most consequential ideas are instituting work requirements, reducing the federal match for the expansion population and establishing a per capita cap for federal funding.
Though Trump and several GOP lawmakers have recently said they don’t want to cut Medicaid, the options the House is considering would deeply slash Medicaid spending and would most likely result in many people losing their health coverage.
Adding work requirements, which several states tried to do in the first Trump administration only to be blocked in federal court, could put as many as 36 million people at risk of losing their benefits, according to the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Reducing the 90% Medicaid expansion match to a state’s rate for its traditional Medicaid enrollees could prompt many states to drop out of the expansion program since they’d have to make up the difference. That could reduce Medicaid spending by $1.9 trillion over a decade, or nearly one-fifth. If all states ended their expansion coverage, up to 20 million people could lose their benefits, according to KFF.
And instituting a per capita cap, in which states would get a set amount of federal funding based on enrollment instead of an open-ended stream, could reduce federal expenditures by between $532 billion and $1 trillion over a decade and result in as many as 15 million people losing their coverage by 2034, KFF found. The growth in federal funding would be limited to the rate of medical inflation, which critics say would squeeze the program over time.
The Medicaid improper payment rate was nearly 5.1%, or just over $31 billion, for 2024, with the majority of improper payments resulting from insufficient documentation, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That’s down from nearly 8.6% the prior year. These payments are not necessarily a result of fraud or abuse, the agency said.
However, the Government Accountability Office has said that Medicaid is susceptible to improper payments and potential mismanagement, as well as waste, fraud and abuse. The program accounted for more than 21% of the federal government’s improper payments in 2023 and is on the GAO’s high-risk list.
More than three quarters of Americans have a favorable view of Medicaid, according to KFF’s tracking poll from January. That includes 63% of Republicans, 81% of independents and 87% of Democrats.
As part of their effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act in 2017, congressional Republicans tried to make changes to and cut federal spending on Medicaid. Their efforts were among the top reasons why the party lost control of the House in the midterm elections the following year. | cnn_politics | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/politics/medicaid-proposed-cuts-what-matters/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 542619e1-0115-59ba-b26e-34a0217c153e |
Woman's body found in trunk of car after chase ends in crash in San Diego County | Unknown | EL CAJON, Calif. (KABC) -- Police found a woman's body in the trunk of car after a chase ended in a crash in San Diego County Tuesday, officials said.
The El Cajon Police Department responded to a report of a possible kidnapping just before 5 p.m. in the area of Madison and Magnolia avenues, Lt. Joe Crawford said.
Officers spotted the suspect vehicle - a black Hyundai Sonata - and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled and a chase began, Crawford said.
The fleeing suspect eventually crashed into two cars. At that point, the suspect tried to get away but officers used a Taser to subdue him and take him into custody.
When officers searched his car, police said they discovered a woman's body inside the trunk. Further details on the woman's identity were not released. | cnn_us | https://abc7.com/post/el-cajon-chase-ends-police-finding-womans-body-trunk-car/15955905/ | 2025-02-26 | 7e2ad85d-958d-5a22-b522-bebcd34a0c03 |
Thousands of University of California workers go on strike alleging unfair bargaining tactics | Unknown | Tens of thousands of University of California physician assistants, optometrists, and other health care and custodial workers went on strike Wednesday over alleged unfair labor practices and staffing shortages.
The strikes by two unions representing nearly 60,000 health care and service workers are separate and come after the unions and 10-campus university system failed to reach a new contract.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, or AFSCME Local 3299, and the University Professional Technical Employees (UPTE)-CWA Local 9119, or UPTE, also went on strike in November alleging unfair bargaining tactics, which the university system denied.
AFSCME Local 3299 represents about 37,000 employees, including respiratory therapists, pharmacy techs, mental health workers, custodians and gardeners. It said the strike comes weeks after it filed new charges with the state’s Public Employment Relations Board over what it says are unfair labor practices by the university.
“Instead of addressing the decline in real wages that has fueled the staff exodus at UC Medical Centers and Campuses at the bargaining table, UC has chosen to illegally implement arbitrary rules aimed at silencing workers who are raising concerns while limiting their access to union representatives,” said AFSCME Local 3299 President Michael Avant.
UPTE, which represents 20,000 employees, including physician assistants, optometrists, pharmacists, nurse case managers and mental health workers is on a three-day strike. The union said the university has attempted “to silence whistleblowers speaking out about the staffing crisis that is hurting students, patient care, and critical research.”
The university denied the allegations and said it fully supports the unions’ right to engage in legal strike activity and picketing “as evidenced by AFSCME and UPTE’s two-day strike last November.”
It added that it has offered each union “meaningful” wage increases, health care premium reductions and other incentives in response to the workers’ complaints.
“The University of California is disappointed that AFSCME and UPTE plan to strike. Both unions have chosen to focus their energy on strike preparation and amplifying misinformation rather than negotiating in good faith,” the university said in a statement.
The contract for AFSCME Local 3299 expired July 31. UPTE’s contract expired Oct. 31. | cnn_business | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/business/university-of-california-workers-strike/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 9cd90f83-7477-5923-8b79-044bc04cf843 |
Trump White House’s new press policy: Threats, revenge and MAGA media favoritism | Brian Stelter | This week is a troubling turning point in the already-tense dynamic between the Trump White House and the press corps.
At the White House, and at key agencies like the Defense Department, the plan is obvious: Punish traditional journalists who ask tough questions and promote a parallel universe of pro-Trump media outlets.
Tuesday’s announcement about President Trump’s press operation taking over “press pool” organizing duties is part of the plan. The administration is clearly trying to exert more control over who asks questions – and what they ask.
Journalists, newsroom leaders and press freedom groups are all objecting to the changes, to no avail.
The “press pool” is a small rotating group of journalists who travel with the president at all times and cover photo ops, Q&As, cabinet meetings, and other events where there isn’t room for dozens of camera crews and correspondents.
Historically the White House Correspondents’ Association, which represents the wider press corps, has managed the pool assignments. But not anymore.
Wednesday was the first day when the White House chose who would be in the pool – and who would not.
The correspondents’ association had listed HuffPost as Wednesday’s print representative in the pool, but Trump’s press operation threw out the list and chose Axios as the print pool member instead.
HuffPost White House correspondent S.V. Dáte has long been a thorn in Trump’s side, and Trump bristled at Dáte’s questions the last time he was in the pool.
On Wednesday morning Dáte tried to cover Trump’s cabinet meeting anyway, but he was denied entry, since it was open only to the press pool.
Dáte stood outside and talked with fellow reporters, then tweeted out one of the questions he would have liked to ask the president during the event.
A Reuters wire reporter was also cut from the Wednesday rotation. And The Associated Press, which was barred two weeks ago in a dispute over Trump’s “Gulf of America” decree, remains banned.
Perhaps most notably, staffers from two staunchly pro-Trump outlets, Newsmax and The Blaze, were added to the pool on Wednesday.
Editors at the sidelined news outlets are speaking out. In a rare joint statement on Wednesday, the top editors of The AP, Reuters and Bloomberg – the three wire services that were, until this month, daily fixtures in the press pool – said the White House’s changes are harmful to the public.
“It is essential in a democracy for the public to have access to news about their government from an independent, free press,” the editors said. “We believe that any steps by the government to limit the number of wire services with access to the President threatens that principle. It also harms the spread of reliable information to people, communities, businesses and global financial markets that heavily depend on our reporting.”
HuffPost editor Whitney Snyder was even more forceful, stating that “the White House must stop this cowardly behavior and restore HuffPost’s place in the press pool immediately.”
But that’s not going to happen. All the evidence indicates that the White House will continue to tighten its grip.
New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker didn’t say this lightly: “Having served as a Moscow correspondent in the early days of Putin’s reign,” the Trump White House’s pool takeover “reminds me of how the Kremlin took over its own press pool and made sure that only compliant journalists were given access.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Baker on X with a clown emoji and called him a “left-wing stenographer” posing as a journalist. That’s profoundly unfair to Baker, but it reaffirmed that the Trump White House wants to have this fight, even as Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich warns that Republicans will regret it someday.
Heinrich told a Trump promoter on X, “if you think MAGA benefits from this in the long term, you’re dead wrong. You would not have trusted [a] Democratic admin to pick its own pool – but now that door is open.”
Leavitt and company claim they are trying to expand access to a greater number of media outlets, but that’s disingenuous at best, since these actions are punitive in nature. For example: Katie Miller, a top adviser to Elon Musk and DOGE, replied to Baker and Leavitt and said “guess he won’t be a pooler anytime soon.”
It is important to note, as Baker did, that “none of this will stop professional news outlets from covering this president in the same full, fair, tough and unflinching way that we always have.”
But it will stop some Americans from believing professional reporting. As Anna Merlan wrote for Mother Jones earlier this week, the Trump White House is propping up right-wing content creators who mostly opine rather than report, and who are cheering for Trump rather than challenging him.
“The administration has created a swell of flattering media coverage,” Merlan wrote, “a gauzy bubble around its every decision, no matter how destructive or incoherent.” | cnn_business | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/media/press-policy-white-house-pool/index.html | 2025-02-26 | d0abdb89-56cd-5cdc-95b5-6f1417c8e505 |
Judge to decide on sentence reduction for Adnan Syed after prosecutors end efforts to toss his murder conviction | Lauren del Valle | A Maryland state court judge is set to decide whether Adnan Syed will remain free despite his conviction for the 1999 murder of his high school ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, after Baltimore’s top prosecutor said he is no longer seeking to vacate the murder conviction.
Syed’s attorneys have petitioned the court for a sentence reduction to time served under Maryland’s Juvenile Restoration Act, a 2021 state law allowing individuals who were minors at the time of their crimes and have served at least 20 years in prison to seek a reduced sentence. Syed was 17 at the time of Lee’s murder.
Syed was convicted in 2000 for the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee. In 2014, the “Serial” podcast raised significant questions about the conviction and Syed’s legal representation. Syed’s conviction was vacated in 2022 and he was released, but Lee’s family challenged the decision and the parties have been litigating the issue ever since.
After a lengthy hearing on Wednesday, Judge Jennifer Schiffer said she has “very heavy considerations” to weigh but assured that she wouldn’t take “too long” to issue a written decision about the sentence reduction.
Hae Min Lee’s family “suffered through the defendant’s rise to celebrity from a viral podcast,” the judge said Wednesday.
“Whether this court grants the defendant relief, I hope that everyone understands that Hae Min Lee and her family are the two victims.”
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In the wake of Adnan Syed’s overturned murder conviction, many questions remain about the unsolved case
If the judge denies his motion for a sentence reduction, Syed could be sent back to prison to continue to serve the life sentence he was issued in 2000.
The Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates supports Syed’s motion to reduce his sentence, despite withdrawing a previous motion to vacate his conviction in a court filing Tuesday night. The prosecutor’s reversal came just hours before Syed was due in court.
“After a thorough review of the Motion to Vacate Judgment filed by the previous administration in the case of Adnan Syed, my office has determined that it contains false and misleading statements that undermine the integrity of the judicial process,” Bates said in the announcement of the decision.
Last August, the Maryland Supreme Court upheld a lower appellate court’s decision to reinstate Syed’s conviction, ruling that the rights of Lee’s family were violated because her official representative, her brother Young Lee, was not properly notified of the 2022 hearing to vacate the conviction. The high court’s ruling meant Bates, who took office in 2023, had to decide whether to continue his predecessor’s efforts.
Bates said in court Wednesday that he wouldn’t have made the same moves as Marilyn Mosby, his predecessor, but Syed should still remain free.
“I will agree that he should not have been out in any way, shape, form or fashion, but that was the previous administration, I had nothing to do with that, and we can’t, I think, penalize Mr. Syed because he was,” Bates said.
“But actually, Mr. Syed is taking that opportunity and chance and shown the court and shown everybody that if given this opportunity and chance, he will be a positive member of society.”
Syed’s attorney, Erica J. Suter, sharply criticized the reversal, saying the current state’s attorney “got it wrong.”
“His decision to withdraw his office’s motion to vacate Adnan’s conviction ignores the injustices on which this conviction was founded. We will continue to fight to clear his name through all legal avenues available to him,” Suter said in a statement to CNN.
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Conviction of Adnan Syed from ‘Serial’ podcast should be reinstated, Maryland Supreme Court says
The defense attorney said their focus is now on “ensuring that (Syed’s) freedom is not taken away from him again.”
“After spending 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Adnan is not bitter. He is rebuilding a life for himself and his family, while continuing to profess his innocence,” said Suter, who is also director of the Innocence Project Clinic at the University of Baltimore Law School in Maryland.
David Sanford, an attorney for Hae Min Lee’s family, asked the judge to deny Syed’s motion to reduce his sentence, reminding the court that he remains a convicted murderer and hasn’t expressed remorse or accepted responsibility for the crime.
Hae Min Lee’s younger brother gave an emotional address speaking about his grief over the loss of his sister and the betrayal he felt when prosecutors began advocating for Syed’s release in 2022.
Judge Schiffer empathized with Hae Min Lee’s brother, telling Young Lee, “I can’t even imagine the betrayal that you felt that you just referenced. I am so sorry for what your family has been through and I can say that your words are not lost on me and my heart goes out to you and your family.”
A video statement given in Korean by Hae Min Lee’s mother was also played in court. An attorney representing the family read an English translation of the emotional statement into the record.
Syed addressed the court at the end of the hearing, at times growing emotional, acknowledging the second chance he’s been given. He addressed Hae Min Lee’s family, saying he tries his best to stay out of the media spotlight to avoid causing them more pain.
“I just acknowledge their pain and I just, I really, I don’t mean to cause more pain for them,” Syed said.
CNN’s Hanna Park contributed to this report. | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/us/adnan-syed-vacate-murder-conviction-withdrawn-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 6f85e949-8a23-511b-b000-44c405bc13ce |
Hints from Supreme Court on workplace discrimination lawsuit | Camila Moreno-Lizarazo | Elliot Williams and CNN's Paula Reid join The Lead
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/us/video/the-lead-donald-trump-dei-discrimination-diversity-supreme-court-justice-case-lgbt-jake-tapper | 2025-02-26 | 0a83b45f-dbcb-5efa-b883-c40d934b9416 |
Trump’s policies on gender identity and immigration have trans immigrants worried about their future | Taylor Romine | Editor’s Note: Help is available if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters. In the US: Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Globally: The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide have contact information for crisis centers around the world.
On an unusually crisp December evening, chatter and laughter reverberated throughout a hall in West Hollywood packed with families and friends. Near the towering Christmas tree, a crowd formed around Bamby Salcedo as flashes of her blazing red suit stood out amongst them.
A younger version of Salcedo couldn’t imagine being surrounded with trans immigrants like herself in such a large celebration. When she arrived in the United States about four decades ago, she oscillated between the streets, jail and immigration detention as stable employment and housing was hard to find.
Those challenges led her to help start TransLatin@ Coalition, an organization and support network dedicated to trans and gender non-conforming immigrants which has provided a refuge for many.
A month into the new Trump administration, Salcedo says the memories of that party do little to soothe her in the face of a government that is working to push her, and others like her, back into the shadows. In the past weeks, she has been focused on preparing to defend transgender immigrants, her community and the people she loves the most, who fear for their safety and their health in the US – and for some, the possibility of deportation.
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Many trans immigrants say violence and vitriol continued to escalate during the Biden administration, which had some of the highest deportation rates since 2014. Last year, TransLatin@ Coalition’s office received a bomb threat from a man who police say was also planning to attack a Pride parade.
But they feel the Trump administration is now singling them out with a level of hostility that wasn’t seen in his previous term.
“It’s very clear that the federal government has a specific initiative to target members of our community,” Salcedo said. “We, as an organization, are fighting like hell to make sure that our community is supported, protected and taken care of, but nonetheless, the messages that people are getting from the federal government has [sic] an impact on people’s minds and people’s spirits.”
So far, President Donald Trump has launched a nationwide immigration crackdown and signed multiple executive orders impacting transgender people. Those include banning transgender service members from serving in the US armed forces, ending federal support for minors’ gender transitions, and reversing efforts to broaden gender identity designations. They also come after Trump spent part of his campaign outlining how he would target these communities.
Calls to TransLatin@ Coalition have at least doubled since Trump came into office with people trying to figure out how those policies have the potential to impact them, Salcedo said.
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CNN has reached out to the White House for comment about the concerns expressed by trans immigrants and advocates.
Approximately 174,200 transgender immigrants are estimated to live across the US and around a quarter of them live in California, according to a 2024 report from the Williams Center, the UCLA School of Law LGBT-focused public policy research center.
Seventy-two percent of transgender immigrants in the US identify as people of color, with 38% being Latinx, 33% are non-Hispanic Asian and 29% are White, the study showed.
Although no policies have been announced targeting transgender immigrants specifically, their overlapping identities put them uniquely at risk for violence, and potentially even death, some experts told CNN.
“It’s important to consider that trans immigrants are experiencing an enhanced experience of discrimination, because we have in our country this anti-trans and anti-immigrant rhetoric of policies,” said Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez, an assistant professor at Boston University School of Social Work. “So they are at the intersection of both crucial moments in our policies.”
Many transgender immigrants have come to the US fleeing high rates of violence and persecution against their community in their home countries. In the past, some have joined caravans of migrants, traveling thousands of miles through Mexico to reach the US border.
If they were to face deportation, it could become a matter of life and death, Salcedo said.
“I think ultimately the biggest fear is for them to lose their lives, right?” she said.
At least 350 trans and gender diverse people were reportedly killed across the globe between October 2023 through September 2024, according to the Trans Murder Monitoring project. At least 70% of those deaths were reported in Latin America and the Caribbean, the data shows.
Mexico, where many of the people CNN spoke with are from, has the second highest homicide rate for transgender people globally, according to the Trans Murder Monitoring project. However, experts and advocates said trans immigrants from across the world face similar violence. El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras also have high levels of violence against LGBTQ people, which is exacerbated from gang violence in those countries, according to a 2017 Amnesty International report.
During the first Trump administration, Alvarez-Hernandez worked as a clinical social worker in Atlanta and heard how fearful many of his trans immigrant clients were of being sent to the violent environments of their home countries.
“Their fears are not unfounded. We have a long history of news out there following trans immigrants (who) have been sent back to the(ir) countries of origin and then have been killed there,” he said.
Returning to those conditions seems unfathomable to many trans immigrants, and being detained in immigration detention centers seems equally terrifying.
People in detention often lack medical and mental health care and suffer discriminatory treatment, conditions that have led to “largely preventable deaths,” according to a 2024 report from the National Immigrant Justice Center.
Li Ann Sanchez, a transgender woman from southern Mexico who runs a trans immigrant rights group in Atlanta, described her experience at an immigrant detention center as “something I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy.”
“The fear is huge, because we’re so vulnerable and anyone can attack us, and your rights are basically lost,” Sanchez said in Spanish.
Sanchez, who was in detention in 2012, said “female officials would tell me that I was not a woman, and that I would never truly be a woman.”
CNN reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment regarding Sanchez and Salcedo’s experiences in detention and advocates’ reports on detention conditions.
In a 2015 ICE memorandum shared by Tom Homan, the agency’s then-executive associate director who is now Trump’s appointed “border czar,” employees were required to make “individualized placement determinations to ensure the detainee’s safety,” including access to healthcare and limits on solitary confinement.
A June 2024 report from Immigration Equality, an LGBTQ immigration advocacy group, said the ICE memo provided “insufficient protections and preserves a carceral and inhumane approach” to care. The group said the memo was “vague, ambiguous, and lack [sic] an independent oversight mechanism.”
Advocates have urged authorities to release LGTBQ and HIV-positive individuals from detention, in part because “transgender women are at the highest risk of assault” and “staff and other detained people viciously attack, belittle, and sexually assault or rape transgender women.”
Salcedo said part of the reason why TransLatin@ Coalition was formed was because of how she saw herself and other trans women being treated while in detention and the limited resources they had to change things.
“I was physically injured (by a male detainee) and assaulted to the point to where I had to be transported to an outside hospital to be treated,” Salcedo said about an incident that took place while she was held in southern California. She also recalled witnessing violence against other trans women while detained in the 1990s and early 2000s in California.
In one of Trump’s several Inauguration Day executive orders, he mandated federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, to not allow transgender women to be housed in women’s prisons and detention facilities, and to discontinue gender-affirming care for detainees.
Earlier this month, a judge blocked the federal prison system from enforcing the order, saying the safety of transgender people could be at risk.
Casey Carter Swegman, director of public policy at Tahirih Justice Center, a nonprofit serving immigrants fleeing gender-based violence, said immigrants and transgender people are “highly targeted and vulnerable” individually, which combined together increases their fear exponentially.
Since the election, victims of sexual assault, domestic violence or trafficking have told the nonprofit they are being threatened by their abusers with deportation for their lack of legal immigration status, which has a “real chilling effect” on their willingness to report a crime, Carter Swegman said.
“The more we see attacks on these programs and these legal pathways to safety that exist under the law, the more transgender survivors in particular are going to be less and less likely to come forward for help,” she said.
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Even if trans immigrants stay out of the grasp of immigration enforcement, their day-to-day life in the US may become treacherous because protections for transgender individuals have been eliminated or limited by Trump’s orders, and hatred toward them continues deepening, experts and advocates say.
At least 32 trans and gender-expansive people were killed last year in the US and the majority were people of color, according to a tally by the Human Rights Campaign.
Anti-transgender hate crimes reported in the US have doubled from 176 incidents in 2021 to 355 in 2023, according to FBI hate crime data.
People within Sanchez’s community, both in Atlanta and other cities in the US, have already reported a rise in attacks and are encouraging one another to walk with at least one other person when out in public, she said.
“We are at risk. We are at risk because the executive orders Trump has signed are specifically against these communities, which have already been vulnerable for years,” Sanchez said.
But Sanchez noted this is a fight her community has already been facing for many years, and “if they touch one of us, we’re all hitting back.”
Another concern is the economic insecurity among trans people, who often have “lower employment rates, lower household incomes, higher rates of poverty, greater public assistance use, and increased likelihood of food insecurity,” according to a 2022 study using US Census data published in the Southern Economic Journal.
When people are not able to access jobs, either because of their immigration status or gender identity, people have to resort to the street economy to survive – which can also lead to incarceration, Salcedo said.
“If people are not able to be visible and not able to obtain employment in order to really live a normal life, you know, that’s also a fear that is installed in our communities, right?” she said. “Like, I mean, you have to do something in order to eat, in order to hopefully obtain a roof over your head.”
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As trans immigrants navigate changes in the Trump administration, advocates strongly encourage people to prioritize their mental health.
“Maybe right now we’re not seeing it as much, but as time passes by, when people start feeling alone, they might resort to suicide,” said Sanchez, who noted it is one of her biggest concerns. Sanchez said it feels like the number of victims of anti-transgender violence and suicide memorialized on Transgender Day of Remembrance gets higher every year.
Forty-one percent of LGBTQ+ students have seriously considered suicide, according to the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which highlights many significant health disparities for LGBTQ+ youth compared with their cisgender and heterosexual peers.
Despite the challenges ahead, the individuals who spoke with CNN feel confident the trans immigrant community will persevere through their support of one another.
“We have clothed our own, we have fed our own. We have housed our own with no resources. So essentially, we have always done social work,” Salcedo said, noting that support from the community at large during a difficult time like this is also crucial to their livelihood.
“As long as we continue to support each other and uplift one another, and understand that this too shall pass … The hope should never die.”
CNN’s Maria Aguilar Prieto contributed to this report. | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/23/us/trans-immigrants-trump-policies/index.html | 2025-02-23 | a3b899b5-8594-568e-a2a2-79f076c175a6 |
Mississippi city drops lawsuit over newspaper editorial that judge ordered removed | Unknown | A Mississippi city dropped its lawsuit Monday against a newspaper that had its editorial criticizing local leaders removed by a judge in a case that sparked widespread outrage from First Amendment advocates.
The city of Clarksdale’s board of commissioners sought to dismiss its libel lawsuit against The Clarksdale Press Register, filing the request moments after its board of commissioners approved the move.
The judge in the case must still dismiss her order that the editorial be removed from the paper’s website, which the city also asked her to do. She had originally set a hearing for Thursday in the case.
“It’s still very, very wrong what they did and it awakened the entire First Amendment community nationally, which is very encouraging,” said Wyatt Emmerich, president of Emmerich Newspapers, the parent company of the paper. “I’m really excited to see how all these people rallied around us to protect our rights.”
Chancery Judge Crystal Wise Martin issued the restraining order against the Press Register last week in connection with a Feb. 8 editorial titled “Secrecy, Deception Erode Public Trust.” The piece criticized the city for not sending the newspaper notice about a meeting the City Council held regarding a proposed tax on alcohol, marijuana and tobacco.
Clarksdale Mayor Chuck Espy told The Associated Press he asked commissioners to drop the lawsuit because of an offer Emmerich made to write a clarification. Emmerich, however, said that offer was made before the lawsuit was filed and the judge’s order, and is “off the table.”
The city’s request to the court doesn’t mention the offer.
“I am very thankful that this matter is now resolved due to the efforts of the owner of the Clarksdale Press Register and the city of Clarksdale,” Espy told the board before it voted to drop the suit. “I’m grateful for the compromise.”
The newspaper’s owner had offered to clarify that the council said the lack of notification wasn’t a deliberate attempt to hide the meeting, according to a text message he had sent to the city attorney. The text also offered to clarify that a sentence questioning whether there was “kick-back from the community” should have said “push back.”
The order was widely criticized by multiple media and free speech advocacy groups, including the National Press Club and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/us/clarksdale-register-mississippi-lawsuit-dropped/index.html | 2025-02-25 | 0fe7065f-5f2f-5fdc-8985-305be0e22b41 |
Chief Justice John Roberts pauses order for Trump admin to pay $2 billion in foreign aid by midnight | John Fritze, Devan Cole | Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday paused a court-imposed midnight deadline that would have required the Trump administration to release $2 billion in frozen foreign aid, a goal that the government has claimed it is unable to meet.
The emergency appeal marks the first time President Donald Trump’s efforts to drastically remake the federal government – including with deep cuts across government agencies – have reached the nation’s highest court. The case appears likely to put the justices on a collision course with Trump’s sweeping efforts to consolidate power within the executive branch.
Roberts’ order does not resolve the underlying questions raised by the case. Rather, it imposed what’s known as an “administrative stay” to give the court a few days to review written arguments in the case. Roberts is the justice designated to handle emergency cases from the federal appeals court in Washington, DC.
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The chief justice called for the groups that sued the administration to respond by Friday.
The Trump administration raced to the Supreme Court late Wednesday just hours before the midnight deadline and urged the justices to step in immediately – the second time Trump has rushed to the high court since taking office last month. Another pending Trump-related case deals with the president’s firing of the leadership at the Office of Special Counsel.
At issue in the latest appeal is billions of dollars in foreign aid from the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development that Trump froze in January as he sought to clamp down federal spending and bring it more in line with his policy positions. US District Judge Amir Ali, nominated by President Joe Biden, imposed a temporary order requiring that money to flow while he considered the case.
After the plaintiffs asserted the Trump administration had not adequately restored the funding, Ali responded by ordering payment by Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET of all foreign aid that had been completed by the time of his order. The Trump administration has told courts that it would take “multiple weeks” to meet the judge’s request.
“The district court’s imminent and arbitrary deadline makes full compliance impossible,” acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris, the administration’s top appellate attorney, told the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
In one notable section of the appeal, the administration told the high court that it “takes seriously its constitutional duty to comply with the orders” of federal courts. That language was clearly a recognition of the blowback Trump and his allies have received in recent weeks as they have flirted with the notion of defying court orders they disagree with, or attempting to impeach the judges who issue them.
“The government,” Harris wrote, “is undertaking substantial efforts to review payment requests and release payments.”
The groups that sued have balked at those explanations, suggesting that a small number of political appointees within the administration “are refusing to authorize essentially any payments.”
It’s possible that the government may run into a major problem when the court begins to review the request more thoroughly: In explaining its reasoning for rejecting the administration’s bid to halt the deadline, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit said that the enforcement order at issue was not one that could be appealed in the first place.
“Appellants cite no case that has held that such a later issued supporting order is appealable,” the court said in its unanimous ruling.
Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at Georgetown University Law Center, said Roberts’ move isn’t an indication of how the court will treat Trump and the foreign aid freeze overall.
“It’s really just a play for time – in this case, perhaps as little as two days – to give the justices time to sort out whether or not they should pause Judge Ali’s ruling or force the government to turn the challenged foreign aid funding back on while the litigation challenging its suspension continues,” Vladeck said.
Roberts’ pause comes as a Wednesday court filing shows the Trump administration says it is terminating more than 90% of the US Agency for International Development’s foreign aid awards.
“In total, nearly 5,800 USAID awards were terminated, and more than 500 USAID awards were retained,” the filing from the administration said.
“The total ceiling value of the retained awards is approximately $57 billion,” the filing said.
In addition to the USAID award terminations, “approximately 4,100 State awards were terminated, and approximately 2,700 State awards were retained,” according to the filing.
The significant slashing of foreign aid awards is a blow to the work of nonprofit organizations and contractors. Aid programs around the world have ground to a halt due to a sweeping funding freeze and review of billions of dollars of assistance. It also comes as the Trump administration has either placed the majority of USAID’s workforce on leave or terminated them.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report. | cnn_politics | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/politics/supreme-court-foreign-aid-state-usaid/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 156320b5-eb40-5ded-8ba2-b37afe83dde0 |
Missouri woman pleads guilty to federal charge in plot to sell Graceland | Unknown | A Missouri woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal charge accusing her of concocting a brazen plot to defraud Elvis Presley’s family by trying to auction off his Graceland mansion and property before a judge halted the mysterious foreclosure sale.
During a hearing in front of a Memphis federal judge, Lisa Jeanine Findley pleaded guilty to a charge of mail fraud related to the scheme. She previously pleaded not guilty to the two-count indictment, which also includes a count of aggravated identity theft that will now be dropped.
When asked by the judge if Findley was admitting guilt and accepting responsibility, she said “Yes.”
Findley will be sentenced on June 19. She would have faced up to 20 years if convicted, but she is expected to receive less than that under the plea deal.
Findley, of Kimberling City, falsely claimed Presley’s daughter borrowed $3.8 million from a bogus private lender and had pledged Graceland as collateral for the loan before her death in January 2023, prosecutors said when she was charged in August 2024. She then threatened to sell Graceland to the highest bidder if Presley’s family didn’t pay a $2.85 million settlement, according to authorities.
Findley posed as three different people allegedly involved with the fake lender, fabricated loan documents, and published a fraudulent foreclosure notice in a Memphis newspaper announcing the auction of Graceland in May 2024, prosecutors said. A judge stopped the sale after Presley’s granddaughter sued.
Experts were baffled by the attempt to sell off one of the most storied pieces of real estate in the country using names, emails and documents that were quickly suspected to be phony.
Graceland opened as a museum and tourist attraction in 1982 and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. A large Presley-themed entertainment complex across the street from the museum is owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises. Presley died in August 1977, at the age of 42.
In May, a public notice for a foreclosure sale of the 13-acre (5-hectare) estate said Promenade Trust, which controls the Graceland museum, owes $3.8 million after failing to repay a 2018 loan. Riley Keough, Presley’s granddaughter and an actor, inherited the trust and ownership of the home after the death of her mother, Lisa Marie Presley.
Keough filed a lawsuit claiming fraud, and a judge halted the proposed auction with an injunction. Naussany Investments and Private Lending — the bogus lender authorities say Findley created — said Lisa Marie Presley had used Graceland as collateral for the loan, according to the foreclosure sale notice. Keough’s lawsuit alleged that Naussany presented fraudulent documents regarding the loan in September 2023 and that Lisa Marie Presley never borrowed money from Naussany.
Kimberly Philbrick, the notary whose name is listed on Naussany’s documents, indicated she never met Lisa Marie Presley nor notarized any documents for her, according to the estate’s lawsuit. The judge said the notary’s affidavit brings into question “the authenticity of the signature.”
The judge halted the foreclosure sale of the beloved Memphis tourist attraction, saying Elvis Presley’s estate could be successful in arguing that a company’s attempt to auction Graceland was fraudulent.
The Tennessee attorney general’s office had been investigating the Graceland controversy, then confirmed in June that it handed the probe over to federal authorities.
A statement emailed to The Associated Press after the judge stopped the sale said Naussany would not proceed because a key document in the case and the loan were recorded and obtained in a different state, meaning “legal action would have to be filed in multiple states.” The statement, sent from an email address listed in court documents, did not specify the other state.
After the scheme fell apart, Findley tried to make it look like the person responsible was a Nigerian identity thief, prosecutors said. An email sent May 25 to the AP from the same email as the earlier statement said in Spanish that the foreclosure sale attempt was made by a Nigerian fraud ring that targets old and dead people in the U.S. and uses the internet to steal money. | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/us/graceland-scheme-guilty-plea/index.html | 2025-02-25 | af2e485b-6a60-523d-af4a-2a3842b0035d |
Manhunt underway after police say woman killed her wife, a California fire captain who battled Eaton Fire, and fled to Mexico | Hanna Park | Newly revealed details from an arrest warrant describe the final moments of a California fire captain found fatally stabbed in her California home last week. Authorities allege her wife carried out the killing before fleeing across the border to Mexico.
Cal Fire Capt. Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, 49, was discovered with multiple stab wounds in her home in Ramona on February 17, according to an arrest warrant filed in San Diego County Superior Court Friday.
Marodi’s mother called 911 around 9 p.m., according to the warrant. Deputies arrived within minutes, but Marodi was pronounced dead at the scene about 15 minutes later.
According to the arrest warrant, surveillance footage from the couple’s home captured part of the attack. At 8:08 p.m., the warrant says, Marodi is seen running across the patio, pursued by her wife, Yolanda Marodi, also known as Yolanda Olejniczak.
“Yolanda! Please… I don’t want to die,” Rebecca Marodi was heard pleading, investigators said. Olejniczak is said to have responded, “You should have thought about that before.”
The surveillance footage shows Olejniczak holding a knife, apparent blood visible on her arms, ordering Marodi back inside the home, the warrant says. Marodi is heard repeatedly asking Olejniczak to call 911 before the two move out of frame. It was the last time Marodi was seen alive on camera, the warrant says.
Minutes later, according to the warrant, Olejniczak was seen on the front door camera loading pets, luggage and belongings into a silver crossover SUV. By 8:22 p.m., she had left the home, investigators said.
Homeland Security records show her vehicle crossing into Mexico less than an hour later, the warrant said.
An acquaintance of Olejniczak contacted investigators with the contents of a text message Olejniczak sent her the day after the killing, according to the warrant.
“Becky came home and told me she was leaving me, she met someone else, all the messages were lies,” Olejniczak wrote, according to the warrant. “We had a big fight and I hurt her… I’m sorry.”
Marodi sustained multiple stab wounds to her neck, chest and abdomen, authorities said.
Olejniczak, who remains at large, was sentenced in 2004 after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of her then-husband, serving time in prison until 2013, according to court records.
“We are not able to discuss the facts or evidence in open cases,” San Diego County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Tanya Sierra said Wednesday.
Last month, Marodi helped battle the Eaton Fire as it ravaged Los Angeles County. “She was on her engine in one of our strike teams of fire engines that were sent to assist,” said Capt. John Clingingsmith Jr., of Cal Fire Riverside County.
“When we arrived on scene, fire (was) all around us,” Marodi said in a social media video posted by Cal Fire. “The feeling that I got while we were trying to make a stance on this fire was overwhelming and sad. I just wanted to be able to make a difference. At one point, we just said if we can save these three houses, let’s do it.”
In a statement, Cal Fire honored Marodi’s decades of service and mourned her death.
“Captain Marodi served over 30 years with Cal Fire, primarily in Riverside County, but also serving time in San Bernardino and San Diego Counties,” the agency said. “The tragic loss of Captain Marodi is mourned by her family, friends and her Cal Fire family.”
The Cal Fire San Diego Benevolent Fund, a nonprofit organization founded by firefighters and community advocates, has raised over $21,000 to help support Marodi’s family and cover the cost of her funeral services.
Marodi began her firefighting career in 1993 as a volunteer firefighter in Moreno Valley, according to the nonprofit. She went on to serve as a seasonal firefighter in Riverside and San Bernardino counties before becoming fire apparatus engineer in 2007 and captain in 2022.
She had been the primary caregiver for her 77-year-old mother, who lived with her. | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/us/rebecca-marodi-death-wife-arrest-warrant-hnk/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 76276f95-a236-5408-9016-2a86c0a5de65 |
New Chicago program seeks to teach parents how to parent | Unknown | Sonya Moore, a recent graduate, and Rarzail Jones, director of community connections at Illinois Action for Children, joined ABC7 Chicago Tuesday to talk more about it.
They also talked about some of the lessons that are taught and how the program can change relationships with children.
A free community event will be from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 29 at Holy Family Ministry, located at 3415 W. Arthington St. in Chicago. | cnn_us | https://abc7chicago.com/post/parent-university-chicago-west-seeks-teach-parents-how-illinois-action-children/15955286/ | 2025-02-26 | 00f0af85-e327-5769-b2bc-10e81b8b14f6 |
First responders honored after saving 2-year-old from drowning in Wilton Manors | Marisela Burgos, Aaron Page | WILTON MANORS, FLA. (WSVN) - First responders were hailed as heroes after they pulled a young boy from a swimming pool in Wilton Manors.
Wilton Manors Police officers and Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene of a boy unresponsive at a home along the 1400 block of Northeast 23rd Street, just before 5 p.m. earlier this month.
“Please, I’m sorry, send someone, please!” said a frantic family member at the time.
One of the first people to arrive was Wilton Manors Police Officer Jonathan Elistin, who rushed to the back of the home to find the unresponsive two-year-old lying next to the pool.
“That’s when training kicks in and really just takes over,” said Elistin.
Without hesitation, he began to initiate CPR.
“I stayed with the child, with Fire Rescue,” said Wilton Manors Police Officer Charles Burgan. “Talking to him. It’s humbling life is fragile, and it’s a wonderful reminder in these occasions of why we do what we do.”
He then picked him up and ran to the front of the house where Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue was waiting to render aid.
“Come on, buddy,” said one officer who was on the scene. “There you go, come on, buddy, come on.”
“There you go, breathe for me, breathe for me,” said another officer.
Bodycam footage showcased the heroic moments when every department worked in unison to get the boy to the hospital.
“We’re just really proud of all the agencies,” said Wilton Manors Police Department Deputy Haley Plante. “That they worked so seamlessly together, blocking off roads, making sure he got there fast. And because of all of us, we managed to save his life.”
When crews rushed him to the hospital, the little boy was alert and sitting up.
“When I opened the door, I was like, ‘Thank you, God,'” said Leighton Green of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue. “There are certain calls I’ll never forget. That’s one of them.”
The boy has since been reunited with his family. Two and a half weeks later, the Lifesaving Award was received by every person from every agency involved in the effort to save that little boy’s life.
While they may not consider themselves heroes, they are heroes to this family and to the community they serve.
“The minute we saw him breathing, that was something incredible to us,” said Carlos Coello of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue. “This young man had an angel at every corner.”
A total of thirty awards were handed out on Tuesday, including to the Broward Sheriff’s Office dispatchers who got the first responders to the home.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | cnn_us | https://wsvn.com/news/local/broward/first-responders-honored-after-saving-2-year-old-from-drowning-in-wilton-manors/ | 2025-02-26 | 4351b532-7614-54da-a5ee-b06555b73d97 |
Edinburg woman reunited with missing dog after nearly 2 years apart | Bella Michaels | After nearly two years, an Edinburg dog owner was reunited with her missing dog, Silver.
“Unbelievable, I was so overwhelmed with joy,” Velma Gonzalez said.
Silver ran away from home on July 4, 2023. Gonzalez said she believes the fireworks scared off Silver, and she’d been looking for her since.
“Honestly, I had already given up hope,” Gonzalez said.
Last week, Gonzalez received a phone call from PetLink, the company she used to microchip Silver.
“She left me a message saying a good Samaritan had found Silver," Gonzalez said. “I thought for a minute this was a scam… but then I [thought] how would they know her name was Silver?"
The good Samaritan was Violeta Garcia, who found Silver while out grabbing dinner in Weslaco last week.
Violeta and her sister, Zoraida, rescue lost dogs in their free time.
Zoraida pulled out a microchip detector that she bought to see if they could track Silver’s owners. The sisters then called PetLink and found Silver’s owner.
“It just felt like she had never left,” Gonzalez said. “She came in and then went straight to my bedroom, jumped on my bed, and got comfortable."
Out of the 24 animals the Garcia sisters have rescued, Silver was the only one who was microchipped.
The sisters have found owners for six non-chipped pets by posting on social media through their group, Sisters Private Pet Parks & More.
Palm Valley Animal Society in Edinburg offers $10 microchipping per pet. No appointment is required, and the pet must be in good health, at least three months old, and weigh four pounds.
Call 956-686-1141 for more details.
The RGV Humane Society in Mission offers $25 microchipping. Walk-in services are available daily from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. You can call them at 956-591-0058 for more details.
Watch the video above for the full story. | cnn_us | https://www.krgv.com/news/edinburg-woman-reunited-with-missing-dog-after-nearly-2-years-apart | 2025-02-26 | b17015a3-bb25-5904-b075-5fb0697cd5fd |
Defense for Idaho quadruple murder suspect Bryan Kohberger may cite autism to try to strike death penalty option | Holly Yan, Jamie Gumbrecht | Attorneys for the man accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death have nodded to autism spectrum disorder in asking the court to ensure the 30-year-old wouldn’t get the death penalty if convicted, court records show.
Bryan Kohberger is accused of killing Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin at an off-campus home in November 2022. Kohberger’s trial is expected to begin in August; not guilty pleas have been entered on his behalf.
The slayings shrouded a college town in grief and fear as authorities embarked on a cross-country search that culminated with the arrest of Kohberger, a criminology graduate student, in Pennsylvania more than a month after the killings.
His defense recently filed a motion “to Strike Death Penalty RE: Autism Spectrum Disorder,” summaries of court documents show. A “Motion to Redact or Seal Newly Filed Records” was also entered “in Support of their Motion to Strike Death Penalty RE: Autism Spectrum Disorder Under Seal.”
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As of early Wednesday morning, the full documents were not publicly available online. And it was not immediately clear whether Kohberger has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or if the defense was seeking a diagnosis.
The motions mark the latest attempt by Kohberger’s attorneys to try to remove the possibility of the death penalty.
The efforts also follow their failed attempt to convince a judge to suppress evidence related to investigative genetic geneaology, a relatively new technique in which authorities upload an unknown suspect’s DNA profile to a database to learn about potential relatives.
The prosecution, meanwhile, recently asked the judge to bar the use of an alibi defense and the claim there was another perpetrator without evidence being shared first. Prosecutors also asked for some sealed expert testimony on Kohberger’s mental health to not be allowed.
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that can affect how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
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While research about people with autism or autism-like characteristics and crime is limited, studies have suggested they’re no more likely than people without autism to offend or encounter the criminal justice system.
Advocacy groups Autism Speaks and the Autism Society have pushed for more training among law enforcement and the judicial system to recognize people’s diagnoses, characteristics and needs.
“A diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder is as relevant to police and legal proceedings as a diagnosis of mental retardation or mental illness would be, no matter how bright, high functioning, and/or verbal the person may be,” Autism Speaks said in a resource page on the judicial system.
“An individual’s Autism diagnosis must be considered when determining appropriate sentences and rehabilitation programs,” the Autism Society said.
Kohberger’s lawyers filed a spate of motions last year listing a variety of reasons they believe the state’s intent to seek the death penalty is unconstitutional.
One motion focuses on what Kohberger’s defense team calls an “ideological shift” and “evolving standards” in the way Americans view the death penalty.
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“The lack of an active death penalty in the majority of states within the United States indicates that there has been an ideological shift and that the punishment now violates our contemporary standards of decency,” they wrote, noting five US states have abolished the practice in recent years.
Other motions argue Idaho’s death penalty statute constitutes a violation of international law and the fundamental precepts of international human rights. They also argue Idaho’s methods of execution – lethal injection and firing squad – are cruel and unusual punishment and therefore violate the US Constitution.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, last week cited a state law providing “mental condition shall not be a defense to any charge of criminal conduct” except “expert evidence on the issues of any state of mind which is an element of the offense,” a court filing shows.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Taylor Romine, Veronica Miracle, Kevin Flower, Cheri Mossburg and Elizabeth Hartfield contributed to this report. | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/us/bryan-kohberger-trial-death-penalty-autism/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 284c03ae-3a72-543c-8031-7257f7c04fca |
Car falls into massive sinkhole in Philadelphia's Port Richmond neighborhood, road closed for repairs | Will Kenworthy, Eva Andersen, Siafa Lewis | By
Taleisha Newbill,
Will Kenworthy,
Eva Andersen,
Alexandra Simon,
Siafa Lewis
Updated on: February 26, 2025 / 7:21 PM EST
/ CBS Philadelphia
A street in Philadelphia's Port Richmond neighborhood is still closed after a large sinkhole opened in the road Tuesday afternoon.
Police reported the sinkhole opened on the 2700 block of Birch Street at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 25. The road remains closed Wednesday between Salmon and Edgemont streets as emergency crews work to make the necessary repairs.
Images from Chopper 3 showed one car that fell into the sinkhole and another that was left teetering on the edge of the collapse. Both cars were removed by Wednesday morning.
Initially, about 30 properties near the sinkhole lost access to water after the Philadelphia Water Department shut down a 6-inch water main in the area. Overnight, the department said service was restored to all but one property.
Though water was restored to neighbors, a spokesperson for the PWD said service may be spotty, as they're still working on repairs. The water department said they will work with those customers to ensure everything gets back to normal. Impacted customers can contact 215-685-6300 for assistance.
Crews from the PWD spent Wednesday inspecting the sewer and underground piping. They're ensuring the site is safe to repair the water main, which the city says was installed in 1880 and has no history of breaks or leaks.
City officials said they still don't know what caused the break. CBS News Philadelphia is working to get answers from the Streets Department for when the mess will be cleaned up and traffic can return to normal.
The incident was shocking to neighbors.
Angela Wise, who lives on Birch Street, said the sinkhole disrupted her day on Tuesday.
"Crazy, didn't know something like that could happen," Wise said.
Steve Williams told CBS News Philadelphia it was his wife's silver sedan that fell into the sinkhole.
"Actually I was at work. I got a call, got a panic call from my wife that something happened on the block. I kinda left work early and when I got home, I saw that … typical sinkhole. Her car was in it," Williams said.
"When I got here … Philly PD was here, they had already called PECO, they had already called the water department, they already called the gas company. So, they were working on it pretty quickly. They got here really fast," he said. "And right now, there appears to be some type of water leak underground, some pipe maybe was running for an extended period of time. And there's no gas leak from what they told us, they got a big crane, they're going to remove my wife's car out and then we'll go from there."
Jimmy Shelton's aunt also lives on Birch Street. He said she was very upset when it initially happened.
"She's good now, at first she was very upset, but she got over it," he said. "Not that she got over it but she's much better than she was at first."
Despite the shock of what happened and the disturbing and surreal images, most are just happy the incident wasn't worse.
"I was kind of concerned the house would fall down, but it's only a car," said Maggie Razzi, who lives on Birch Street. "It's only two cars, it could've been like a person. Only cars, only the street, nothing like major."
Taleisha Newbill is a digital content producer at CBS Philadelphia. Taleisha has previously worked at NBC affiliate WOWT and FOX 42/KPTM in Omaha, Nebraska. She covers breaking news, crime, entertainment and feel-good stories.
© 2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. | cnn_us | https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/sinkhole-port-richmond-philadelphia-water-department/ | 2025-02-26 | 65dd7689-fade-530d-940a-395899b12b0e |
Woman dragged out of Idaho town hall pursuing legal representation | Alexandra Coenjaerts, , Alexandra Coenjaerts, , Alexandra Coenjaerts | Reporter
KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho -- The woman dragged out of a Kootenai County Republican Central Committee meeting this weekend is perusing litigation.
In a surprise move, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris decided to not make a planned statement Tuesday. The Coeur d'Alene Police Department said it is doing a criminal investigation and Kootenai County Sheriff's Office announced they are holding a separate independent investigating by an outside agency.
Dr. Teresa Borrenpohl was forcibly removed from Saturday's meeting by security guards from Lear Asset Management, a private security firm, that KCRCC said volunteered to monitor the town hall meeting. Her close friend Alice Abbott started a GoFundMe within hours after hearing Dr. Borrenpohl talk about how overwhelming the experience was.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Coeur d'Alene Police investigating town hall uproar involving Kootenai Sheriff
Dr. Borrenpohl was removed from the meeting by two Lear Asset Management employees that KCRCC said volunteered to monitor the town hall meeting.
You can watch a video of the incident here. WARNING graphic language.
The event on Saturday had multiple legislators in attendance and quickly became disorganized.
Those in support of Dr. Borrenpohl argue the way she was treated is an evident violation of the first amendment.
"It's our freedom of speech," Abbott said. "That is a contract between us and our government and our elected officials. When they are doing everything in their power to silence us, they need to expect some sort of dissent."
The GoFundMe created for Dr. Borrenpohl's legal expenses had a goal of $30,000. As of Tuesday afternoon, it has raised over $260,000 from donors across the world.
Abbott said these funds will help Dr. Borrenpohl find lawyers specifically for civil rights cases in Idaho.
"It is hard to find lawyers for any kind of civil rights action in Idaho, just on its face, so to meet that challenge without financial support is almost insurmountable at time," Abbott said.
KCRCC said it is confident there was no violation of the first amendment at Saturday's town hall.
"It has nothing to do with what [Borrenpohl] said, it is just how she was saying it. People couldn't hear what was going on because she was screaming," said KCRCC Chairman Brent Regan.
Coeur d'Alene Police are still investigating the incident.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Coeur d'Alene Police recommend dropping battery charge on woman forcibly removed from town hall
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Confusion over Kootenai Sheriff's involvement in chaotic town hall
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
Reporter | cnn_us | https://www.kxly.com/news/woman-dragged-out-of-idaho-town-hall-pursuing-legal-representation/article_5f95b504-f3df-11ef-b010-2ba67a71e788.html | 2025-02-25 | 33580e24-88ad-597e-9209-cac2d5c535a1 |
Back together again: Afghan father and children reunited after years apart | Unknown | INDIANAPOLIS — A father can get some rest after working for nearly five years to bring his family to the U.S.
In 2021, an Afghan soldier had to board an evacuation flight out of the country, leaving his family behind. A long journey for this family, now able to live their American dream.
"My heart is beating really fast," Abdul said.
A feeling difficult for Abdul to put into words.
"I saw my son in 2022, and my daughter in March 2021,” Abdul said.
Tuesday evening, Abdul waited inside Indianapolis International Airport (IND) with flowers and his niece, watching Concourse B for two special passengers.
"I'm really happy now and excited," Yalba, Abdul’s daughter, said.
In 2021, the Taliban claimed victory over Afghanistan. Abdul and his family were preparing to evacuate. Because Abdul worked for the government of Afghanistan, he was able to board an evacuation flight out of the country, and his family stayed behind.
"We've been through a lot, and at that time, we felt like our future was completely unconcerned. But the magic happened, and it's like a dream come true," Abdul Jalal, Abdul’s son, said.
A miracle thanks to Matt Hall, who met Abdul at Camp Atterbury.
"Myself and a couple of other veterans that are here in town, we set up what we call a gorilla campaign, and we just provided help and assistance to him as much as we could," Hall said.
Hall heard Abdul’s story and started making calls to help piece the family back together.
"If you're over 18, they don't consider you immediate family. So, we had to figure out a different way to get his two older children here," Hall said. "And so, I reached out to a friend of mine and said, 'What about a student visa? Is that appropriate?' I said, 'I have this Afghan family that would love to come to college at Chadron State' and she said, 'Absolutely.'"
Hall was able to get Abdul's children enrolled in Chardon State College, with classes starting in March.
A goal that was already top of their priority.
"The first thing that we want to do is to look for some education because we've been away from it for a very, very long time," Abdul Jalal said.
"I came here and I was alone. It was hard for me, as a military officer, to leave the country, besides that, to leave family behind," Abdul said.
"I witnessed the moment that my father couldn't rest for days and nights, just preparing documents, talking over the phone with lawyers, and explaining the situation. And I'm so happy that finally, at least a part of his struggles came through," Abdul Jalal said.
"I am one lucky father," Abdul said.
Abdul told WRTV he is still working to get his wife, 16-year-old son, and mother here. | cnn_us | https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/back-together-again-afghan-father-and-children-reunited-after-years-apart | 2025-02-26 | 94b3192f-d2e5-57a6-b68d-82ae4bd25e1b |
Tracking Trump’s executive actions | Curt Merrill, Amy O’Kruk | President Donald Trump’s second term is off and running with a cascade of executive actions signed in his first few weeks and more promised in the weeks to come. Trump has vowed to enact a sweeping agenda and reshape the federal government, saying in his inaugural address that “the golden age of America” was starting and naming priorities such as immigration, trade and national security.
Catch up on what you need to know about Trump’s actions in office.
Scroll through and explore each executive action and read more details by clicking or tapping on the title name for the full text.
This page has been updated to exclude presidential declarations of state emergencies.
Methodology
CNN analyzed the dozens of executive actions and determined a singular category that best describes how and where the action will have the most impact. In many cases, however, the executive actions could fit into several categories, but we have chosen only one for this analysis.
This list is comprehensive of executive actions coming out of the White House and does not track legal rulings blocking the actions, or pending lawsuits against the actions. | cnn_politics | https://www.cnn.com/politics/tracking-trump-executive-orders-actions-dg/index.html | 2025-02-26 | 63cf7d82-ba68-5c3e-8466-15eaa3373241 |
Stunning images of the moon, why bakeries are struggling, how to rein in anxiety: Catch up on the day’s stories | Daniel Wine | Editor’s Note: CNN’s 5 Things newsletter is your one-stop shop for the latest headlines and fascinating stories to start and end your busy day. Sign up here.
👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Political division. Worry about paying the bills. Social media overload. Whatever the cause, anxiety can be debilitating. Controlling it starts with this simple step.
Here’s what else you might have missed during your busy day:
1️⃣ Dazzling images: The Blue Ghost spacecraft has been sharing stunning visuals of our celestial neighbor since it entered the moon’s orbit a week and a half ago. It will attempt to land on the lunar surface in just a few days. Take a closer look.
2️⃣ Burned out: In Los Angeles, homes under $1 million are hard to come by. The devastating wildfires don’t seem to have deterred people who are buying up charred empty lots where homes once stood. The risk of future fires looms large.
3️⃣ Shell-shocked: Egg costs are skyrocketing because of the bird flu outbreak, and bakeries are being hit especially hard because it’s such a critical ingredient. They’re raising prices and worried about losing customers.
4️⃣ That’s the spirit: After a string of airline incidents, some people are having reservations about flying. But they’re standing by a surprising carrier known for its tiny seats, frequent delays and baggage fees — in addition to charging for snacks and drinks.
5️⃣ Emotional journey: Nearly 10 years after his father died, Will McGough wanted to honor his memory by scattering his ashes in the pristine wilderness of Antarctica. The trip didn’t go as planned.
🏔️ Snowed under: Body camera footage shows the moment rescuers in Colorado spotted a snowmobiler’s avalanche airbag and dug him out to safety. He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
• Trump and Macron discuss path forward for Ukraine on third anniversary of Russian invasion• US halts plan to house migrants in tents at Guantanamo amid concerns over conditions• Lester Holt is stepping down as anchor of ‘NBC Nightly News’
That’s how many people have died since January in fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the prime minister.
🎨 Past and present: Derrick Adams uses his paintings to spotlight important moments in Black history as well as to bookmark his own personal interests and fixations.
I would give my life for these people … but it seems that my service is not valued or not needed.
Air Force Master Sgt. Logan Ireland
🪖 Uncertain future: Thousands of transgender US military troops and recruits are stuck in limbo because of an executive order from President Donald Trump casting doubt on their fitness to serve.
📺 Which Oscar winner made a surprise voice cameo on the latest episode of “The White Lotus”?A. Cillian MurphyB. Ke Huy QuanC. Ryan GoslingD. Robert Downey Jr.⬇️ Scroll down for the answer.
🐟 Venturing out: In November, a car accident left Brandon Simmons with a spinal cord injury. Months later, although he was nervous, the 18-year-old visited the Georgia Aquarium using a wheelchair for the first time in public. What motivated him? His father’s advice: “Don’t ever say you can’t do anything.”
👋 We’ll see you tomorrow.🧠 Quiz answer: B. Quan, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” had a voice cameo.📧 Check out all of CNN’s newsletters.
Today’s 5 Things PM was edited by CNN’s Kimberly Richardson and Eduarda Speggiorin. | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/24/us/5-things-pm-february-24-trnd/index.html | 2025-02-24 | bcbc2d21-5250-5674-956b-5f7f3226fe0d |
How glaciers helped life evolve, new version of Alexa, perks of drinking tea: Catch up on the day’s stories | Daniel Wine | Editor’s Note: CNN’s 5 Things newsletter is your one-stop shop for the latest headlines and fascinating stories to start and end your busy day. Sign up here.
👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Drinking tea has long been linked to various health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease and inflammation in the body. A new study suggests another surprising perk of the beverage.
Here’s what else you might have missed during your busy day:
1️⃣ Building blocks: Ancient glaciers reshaped the Earth’s surface, and when the ice melted, that infused ocean water with nutrients. Scientists say this new finding reveals clues about how complex life on our planet evolved.
2️⃣ Egg prices: The US Department of Agriculture outlined a new strategy to limit the spread of bird flu and lower the cost of eggs. The agency will invest $1 billion in the plan, which will be paid for — at least in part — by Department of Government Efficiency cuts.
3️⃣ Unhealthy eating: Ultraprocessed foods, which are made with ingredients you wouldn’t normally find in a supermarket or your kitchen, make up as much as 70% of the US food supply. Experts offered suggestions on how to reduce your intake.
4️⃣ New and improved: Amazon just unveiled a revamped version of Alexa that brings the popular voice assistant into the artificial intelligence era. The next iteration — dubbed Alexa+ — is more conversational. See what else you can expect.
5️⃣ ‘Just amazing’: Coffee aficionados will need to rack up some serious frequent flyer miles if they want to try the “world’s best” coffee shop. Cafés were judged on a variety of factors, including quality of coffee and food, sustainability practices and customer service.
🚽 Royal flush: Police just released surveillance video showing burglars driving stolen cars through the gates of Blenheim Palace in England before taking off with a solid gold toilet during a heist in 2019. Five people were arrested, but the toilet was never recovered.
• Trump memo tells federal agencies how to conduct mass layoffs• Trump holds first official Cabinet meeting of second term• Child in West Texas is first US measles death in a decade
⭐ Star power: Dozens of Academy Award nominees got together for dinner and, while they were at it, produced an epic photo. Take a look.
🇬🇧 Tunnel vision: A mile-long series of secret World War II tunnels under a tube station in London will be turned into a major tourist attraction. Here’s what it’s like inside.
🙏 That’s the percentage of Americans who said they pray daily, according to a major new study on religious views in the US.
🎤 Kurt Cobain, the Nirvana frontman who died in 1994, shares a grandson with which celebrity?A. Glenn CloseB. Brad PittC. Sandra BullockD. Tony Hawk⬇️ Scroll down for the answer.
🏅 World champ: Merab Dvalishvili went from working in construction to becoming a UFC champion. In September, he won the bantamweight title belt by unanimous decision in a dominant performance. “Fighting is in my DNA,” he said of his humble beginnings in his native country of Georgia.
👋 We’ll see you tomorrow.🧠 Quiz answer: D. Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk’s son, Riley, and Cobain’s daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, welcomed a son together in September 2024.📧 Check out all of CNN’s newsletters.
5 Things PM is produced by CNN’s Chris Good, Meghan Pryce and Kimberly Richardson. | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/us/5-things-pm-february-26-trnd/index.html | 2025-02-26 | b2f067d1-5d1b-508b-93d3-558f3c57530a |
‘Breathe through your clothes’: Delta flight makes an emergency landing after a haze filled the cabin | Samantha Lindell | A Delta flight carrying 94 passengers and five crew members left Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport headed for Columbia, South Carolina, before it was forced to return to Atlanta due to a "haze" in the passenger cabin. Passenger video shows the haze aboard the flight and the evacuation procedure.
© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/24/us/video/delta-flight-haze-emergency-landing-digvid | 2025-02-24 | ef21df81-d39c-52e6-92f8-49c67bebd907 |
81-year-old death row inmate dies weeks before his scheduled execution | Dakin Andone | Editor’s Note: This story includes graphic descriptions of violence some readers may find disturbing.
An 81-year-old Louisiana death row inmate died Saturday, several weeks before he was scheduled to be put to death for his young stepson’s murder in what would have been one of the state’s first two executions in 15 years as it shifts posture on capital punishment.
The inmate, Christopher Sepulvado, had long been unwell, attorneys said: He was confined to a wheelchair and suffered from a variety of chronic conditions and illnesses, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an occluded – or blocked – artery to his brain and gangrene that led to sepsis in his leg.
Days before his execution warrant was signed, doctors had recommended Sepulvado enter hospice care, his attorneys said. He was hospitalized last week in New Orleans, they said, and returned Friday to the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.
“Christopher Sepulvado’s death overnight in the prison infirmary is a sad comment on the state of the death penalty in Louisiana,” his attorney Shawn Nolan said Sunday in a statement, describing the prospect of the state executing “this tiny, frail, dying old man” as “simply barbaric.”
The state Department of Public Safety and Corrections confirmed Sepulvado’s death in a statement, noting, “He died from natural causes as a result of complications arising from his pre-existing medical conditions.”
Sepulvado’s death comes as Louisiana moves to resume executions after more than a decade. To that end, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry two weeks ago announced the state had finalized a new execution protocol that includes nitrogen hypoxia, a new execution method it adopted last year.
Related article
Execution by nitrogen hypoxia doesn’t seem headed for widespread adoption as bills fall short and nitrogen producers object
The method – which in Louisiana involves forcing an inmate to breathe “pure” nitrogen gas through a mask, depriving him of the oxygen needed to live – has so far been used only in Alabama; it also is legal in Oklahoma and Mississippi. Lethal injection is the primary method of execution in the 27 US states with the death penalty.
Louisiana officials have not said whether they intend to use nitrogen gas or lethal injection when they restart executions next month. Within days of the governor’s announcement of the new protocol, warrants were signed scheduling the executions of Sepulvado and another inmate, Jessie Hoffman, for March 17 and 18, respectively.
Landry cast the protocol as a step toward securing justice for the death row inmates’ victims, saying the state had “failed to uphold the promises made” to them. No executions have been carried out in Louisiana since 2010 due to the state’s struggles to get the drugs necessary for lethal injection and scant political will (Landry’s predecessor, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, was opposed to the death penalty).
“The time for broken promises has ended; we will carry out these sentences and justice will be dispensed,” Landry said in his statement.
Republican Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill echoed that sentiment in commenting on Sepulvado’s death: “Justice should have been delivered long ago for the heinous act of brutally beating then scalding to death a defenseless six year old boy.”
“The State failed to deliver it in his lifetime,” Murrill said Sunday in a post on X, “but Christopher Sepulvado now faces ultimate judgment before God in the hereafter.”
Sepulvado was sentenced to death in 1993 for the killing of 6-year-old Wesley “Allen” Mercer, his stepson.
The boy had come home in March 1992 having had a bathroom accident at school, according to the inmate’s 2023 clemency petition. Sepulvado and his wife refused to let the child change his clothes – or eat – for two more days. Sepulvado finally told the boy to take a bath, but when he hesitated, Sepulvado struck Allen with a screwdriver handle until he was unconscious.
Allen was then put in a bathtub of scalding water, the petition says. By the time Sepulvado and his wife took the boy to the hospital, he had already died as a result of burns, the petition says.
Related article
Condemned South Carolina killer chooses firing squad execution in what would be first use of that method in US in 15 years
Sepulvado’s attorneys had argued executing him served no purpose. Aside from the fact he was already dying, they pointed to his efforts to redeem himself on death row.
They described Sepulvado as a remorseful model inmate known for helping others and committed to his Christian faith, which was the catalyst for his rehabilitation, the 2023 petition says. He often led other inmates in prayer and served as a praise and worship leader, and he studied the Bible in correspondence courses, it says.
To his attorneys, this was evidence Sepulvado deserved mercy, particularly when considered alongside his myriad health issues.
“Such pointless cruelty in scheduling his execution in the face of all this overlooked the hard work Chris did over his decades in prison to confront the harm he had caused,” Nolan said Sunday, “to become a better person, and to devote himself to serving God and helping others.” | cnn_us | https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/24/us/christopher-sepulvado-louisiana-death-row-inmate/index.html | 2025-02-24 | 13e9cc3c-5cde-5e5d-bb7d-0908cba62316 |
'I started screaming that he's alive!': Pewaukee man who got lost on hike in Puerto Rico found safe | Unknown | To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that
supports HTML5 video
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (CBS 58) -- A Pewaukee family vacationing in Puerto Rico is finally breathing a sigh of relief after their missing loved one was finally found safe.
Sixty-four-year-old Abdur Rahman went missing Sunday, Feb. 23, while on a rainforest hike.
His family, and dozens of rescuers, searched for him day and night.
He was finally located, alive and safe, on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Rahman was recovering in a Puerto Rican hospital Tuesday night. But his daughter told us she was close to thinking he was going to die.
Three extended families were on vacation in Puerto Rico. They went on a hike Sunday through a dense tropical rainforest.
A few of them took a side trail to take photos from a lookout spot. But not everyone made it back to the main trail.
Rahman's daughter, Mehreen Asra, told us from Puerto Rico, "I never thought we'd find him alive."
Fazal Hunzai is Mehreen's husband and Rahman's son-in-law. When Rahman did not return to the group, Hunzai said, "I told my wife, 'Can you please call 911 right away. Because it sounds like he's missing.'"
Hunzai said he knew right away something was wrong.
"I said, 'Hey, where's your dad?' 'He was ahead of us, I thought he was with you.' I said, 'No.' Then my mind clicked."
Moments earlier, Fazal himself had taken the wrong path. He worried his father-in-law had done the same. "Then I started running down the right trail. I run, run, run, run almost an hour."
Police and rescuers responded immediately. They used search dogs and thermal imaging drones. But there was still no sign of Rahman.
The minutes turned into hours. "It was dark. It got dark very easy," Hunzai said.
When it got too dark, police suspended the search.
Hunzai told us, "The police guy, he said, 'You guys stay here. I don't want you to come in, and I don't want you to get hurt and then we have to look for you guys."
They returned at 5 a.m. Sunday morning, searching all trails for any clues.
Asra said, "When we didn't find him for 24 hours, I thought he fell somewhere and he passed away."
After an entire day of searching, they again had to stop in the darkness.
Despite a heart condition, Rahman was fit, an avid hiker.
But the family's hopes were slipping as the third day dawned.
Asra said, "We almost gave up."
Finally, there came a message on the rescue radio: Abdur had been found, alive.
Hunzai recalled hearing an officer: "He said, 'Yes, he is alive.' I jumped like a little baby, hugging, like a piggyback hug, the police officer."
Then Mehreen heard the news. "Then he said it again and I started screaming that he's alive!"
Mehreen and Fazal got to see Abdur briefly. "His first words was, 'I'm hungry,'" according to Hunzai.
Then Rahman was taken to the hospital.
He told his family he had not eaten since he went missing, and good water had been hard to find in the rainforest.
Asra told us, "I just came from inside; my dad was saying that wherever he was, that area was raining continuously throughout the night. He never slept in the last two days."
The site where Rahman was found was a 15-hour walk from where he had been last seen.
But he suffered no major injuries. Asra said her father got some IVs Tuesday and a CT scan, and he will likely be discharged Wednesday with just a few scrapes.
She said he wants to go hiking again as soon as he's able. | cnn_us | https://www.cbs58.com/news/crews-search-for-us-tourist-from-wisconsin-who-went-missing-in-a-dense-puerto-rico-jungle | 2025-02-26 | 3b9174ec-6af1-5452-86c5-02f47a34c83b |
Cat dies from bird flu in East County after eating raw food; 1st case in San Diego | Unknown | SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego County health officials announced Wednesday they're investigating the area's first case of bird flu after a house cat got sick and died in the East County area in January.
According to the county, preliminary test results indicated the cat, which died in mid-January 2025, was positive for bird flu.
"The indoor cat ate a raw pet food that is suspected to be the source of the infection," the county said in its press release.
The county also said there have been several unconnected cases of bird flu happening across California, and they're all suspected to stem from the animals eating raw food or raw milk.
Bird flu, also known as H5N1, is a highly contagious virus that can sicken or kill birds and other animals, per the county.
According to health officials, there were six cases of bird flu in wild gulls across the county throughout 2024. So far in 2025, no wildlife cases have been reported.
Additionally, there have been no human cases reported, the county says.
The virus can spread to people if it gets in someone's eyes, nose or mouth or if it's inhaled; however, the county says that's a rare occurrence, emphasizing that the risk to people is still low.
“Bird Flu has been devastating for wildlife populations around the globe, poultry and dairy cattle in our country and has infrequently affected people and cats,” said Dr. Seema Shah, medical director of San Diego County's Epidemiology and Immunization Services Branch. “The County is actively monitoring wild birds and expanding testing, along with keeping tabs on people exposed to those animals in case they exhibit symptoms. We are also working with veterinarians, healthcare providers, farmers and wildlife groups to provide guidance and resources.”
The county recommends taking the following precautions to lower your risk of contracting the bird flu:
Other reported cases of house cats dying from bird flu after consuming raw milk or food products happened in Santa Barbara County, San Mateo, Los Angeles, Washington and Oregon, the county said. The following symptoms are signs of bird flu in cats:
If your pet is sick and you inform your veterinarian, be sure to let them know if it has eaten a raw food diet, interacted with poultry or dairy cattle or if it hunts wild birds or other wild animals. The county says farmworkers, people with backyard flocks, wildlife workers and those who work with animals are the people most at risk for bird flu.
If you need more information about bird flu, follow this link to the county website. | cnn_us | https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/east-county-news/cat-dies-from-bird-flu-in-east-county-after-eating-raw-food-1st-case-in-san-diego | 2025-02-26 | 15427e0b-a39d-5fd7-8f47-905b34548019 |
Search location by ZIP code | , | New body camera video shows the end of a police chase and arrest of four suspects in the robbery of a FedEx driver in Harvard, Massachusetts.
The suspects were arrested last month after the pursuit ended in a crash on Interstate 95 in Providence, Rhode Island. The suspects jumped out of the car, ran down an embankment, crossed some railroad tracks, and were eventually caught.
The men are accused in the armed robbery of a FedEx driver who was delivering a package on Stow Road in Harvard.
Video from last month shows the FedEx driver delivering a package when two men jump out of a car and grab the box. The driver was not hurt.
Harvard police said the alleged thieves waited hours to pull off the brazen heist.
One day later, Providence and Rhode Island State Police were alerted to a white sedan speeding on I-95.
The chase ended with a crash and one suspect was arrested along the highway. Police say the three others took off but were captured a short time later.
The suspects, Anderson Torres Cepin, 24, Jason Vargas Gomez, 25, Reily Liriano Elena, 23, and Henry Batista Mackensy, 22, are New York residents and were arraigned and released on bail. | cnn_us | https://www.wcvb.com/article/new-bodycam-video-shows-arrests-of-4-suspects-in-harvard-fedex-robbery/63930350 | 2025-02-26 | 7a80aca5-e441-5174-822c-76ab79c97025 |
This College Hill man got an anti-theft software upgrade installed. His car was stolen two days later. | Unknown | CINCINNATI — It happened again.
Kevin Corbett walked out of his College Hill home, ready to get in his car for another day of substitute teaching last Thursday when he noticed his 2015 Hyundai Sonata wasn't where he parked it.
It wasn't down the street or on the other block. It wasn't anywhere in the area, because it had been stolen for the second time in six months.
"It's not there. At first, I was just in shock. I almost didn't feel anything. I was just like, 'Wow. It's hard to believe this is happening,'" Corbett said.
Corbett filed a report with Cincinnati police. Five days later, he's still waiting for an update. Corbett had hoped his car would have been recovered by now considering how quickly he got it back last time.
Hear more from Corbin below:
Corbett said his car was first stolen in late August by a group dubbed the "Kia Boys" which targeted Kia and Hyundai cars in Cincinnati, stealing them for joyrides. Police located his car abandoned in a parking lot in Lebanon. The steering column was popped open and the ignition column was loose, but Corbett was able to repair the issues.
For months, Corbett kept his car in the garage to protect it from other potential car thieves. That effort worked, but two weeks ago he had to start parking on the street again.
With his car back in the elements, he scheduled an appointment at a Hyundai car dealership on Feb. 18 to install the company's free anti-theft software upgrade. Kia and Hyundai implemented the service in early 2023 when instructional videos posted on social media kicked off a viral trend of thefts targeting vehicles without push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices in the United States.
Hyundai's software upgrade modifies certain vehicle control modules on vehicles equipped with standard "turn-key-to-start" ignition systems. As a result, locking the doors will set the factory alarm and activate an “ignition kill” feature so the vehicle cannot be started when subjected to the popularized theft mode. Vehicles with the software also receive an anti-theft window sticker
Corbett's car was stolen two days after techs installed the upgrade and attached the sticker. He's unsure if he remembered to lock his doors.
"I (still) figured they wouldn't be able to turn (the car) back on," he said. "I thought everything would be fine but then it wasn't."
Corbett is not the first person to be left scratching their heads. A 2024 study found while the software has helped reduce car thefts, it hasn't prevented them completely. The report says cars with the software upgrade had 53% lower theft claim frequencies than those without.
"Theft claim frequency for Hyundai and Kia vehicles remains elevated, even for models with the new software. One reason may be that the software-based immobilizer only activates if the driver remembers to lock the vehicle with a fob, while many people are in the habit of using the switch on the door handle," the report reads.
WCPO contacted Hyundai on Tuesday for a response to Corbett's situation. A spokesperson wrote back on Tuesday.
Corbett said he's frustrated because he feels Hyundai gave him a false sense of security. He's been unable to get to work without a consistent form of transportation and though he now intends to purchase a new car, he's unsure how he will find the funds to do so.
"In moments of anger, when it first started I was like, 'Those kids...' but upon a reflection I'm like OK there are kids with different economic situations and there are kids whose brains aren't fully developed," Corbett said. "But those people at Hyundai who made the cars these ways — their brains are fully developed and they should have known. They shouldn't have had this happen in the first place and they shouldn't have been putting out these supposed solutions that don't actually work.
WCPO checked with CPD on Tuesday for an update on the investigation into Corbett's stolen car. The detective assigned to the case is seeking out possible security camera footage that may have captured the thieves.
CPD said the same detective recalled another car theft from the same road at the end of January. That case is also still under investigation. It's unclear if that vehicle was a Kia or Hyundai.
Meanwhile, CPD shared a note on an attempted car theft in downtown this past weekend.
"All vehicles’ windows were broken out. There was a vehicle that was attempted to be stolen (a Kia), but the software upgrade made it unsuccessful," the note read.
"Basically if there's a message I want it's like, 'Be careful if you get that update,'" Corbett said. "It might not work as well as Hyundai seems to be putting out that it does and that there are still vulnerabilities at least."
Watch Live: | cnn_us | https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/college-hill/this-college-hill-man-got-an-anti-theft-software-upgrade-installed-his-car-was-stolen-two-days-later | 2025-02-26 | de8e927a-30a2-5e41-affb-1b27b657e493 |
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