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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
President Trump has expressed his intention to attend the wedding of his eldest son, Don Jr., to Bettina Anderson, happening this weekend.
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, Trump shared, “He wants me there, but it’s going to be an intimate and private event. I’m hoping to make it.”
President Trump said that he’s going to “try” to make his eldest son Don Jr.’s wedding this weekend. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin Donald Trump Jr. is set to marry Bettina Anderson this weekend on a private island in the Bahamas. Getty Images for amfAR
According to Page Six, the couple plans to exchange vows this Saturday on a secluded island in the Bahamas.
Stay updated with The Post’s live coverage for the latest on President Trump and national political developments.
The president acknowledged, “The timing isn’t ideal for me with everything involving Iran and other matters on my plate.”
Still, he admitted, “that’s one I can’t win on. If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed.”
“Hopefully they’re going to have a great marriage,” he added.
In Portugal, two young siblings were shockingly deserted by their parents in a forested area, left blindfolded to find their way.
The brothers, Barthelemy and Zacharie, aged five and three, were discovered wandering a rural road between Alcacer do Sal and Comporta on Tuesday evening around 7 PM.
A local couple, Eugenia and Artur Quintas, stumbled upon the boys carrying only a spare set of clothes, two pieces of fruit, and two bottles of water as they walked along the N235 road.
Artur recounted, “They were in tears and visibly shaken, crying out for their father.”
He further described them as being grimy and bruised, with one of them nursing a knee injury. Neither child had any form of identification on them.
The Quintases took the young children to their home and called the police, who quickly arrived and took them to Setúbal Hospital for a full health assessment. There, they were given a clean bill of health.
A toxicology report revealed the boys had not been drugged by the parents.
After questioning them, they were able to figure out that the boys had actually come from France.
The boys told authorities that their parents told them they were going to play a game to ‘drive away the devil’.
Their mother, 41-year-old Marine, and stepfather, Marc, blindfolded them and took them to a wooded area, before telling them they could only remove their eye covers once they had found a knife the couple had buried in the ground and used it to cut them off.
Two young brothers were abandoned by their parents in a wooded area in Portugal
The boys were taken to hospital to be looked at, and police spoke to them there
The boys were digging around in the dirt for several minutes before Barthelemy took their blindfolds off. To their shock, the boys realised they were all alone.
Still believing that they were playing a game, the boys wandered the area for several hours through a part of Portugal that can reach up to 30C during the day at this time of year.
Artur told local media: ‘The oldest one told me that he and his brother had gotten lost in the forest and that their father and mother had left without taking them.’
He added: ‘I realised right away that they had been abandoned by the backpacks. When I saw the way the backpacks were packed, I knew they had been abandoned.’
The boys were placed into foster care after information about the boys that was requested from the French embassy in Portugal revealed they had no blood relatives in the country. They are set to be transferred to the French embassy.
Investigative efforts from both Portuguese and French police have so far determined that Marine, believed to be from Colmar in eastern France, disappeared with the two children around two weeks ago before setting off on the road trip to Portugal.
Marine’s mother, the boys’ maternal grandmother, reported the children’s disappearance to police, telling them they had been abducted by their mother.
The boys’ father, who is separated from Marine, also filed a child abduction report to police. Colmar prosecutor Jean Richert told Le Parisien: ‘He’s like everyone else, he doesn’t understand.’
The family entered Portugal on May 11 via Bragança on the Spanish border, having been spotted taking the family car through a crossing.
The family then travelled more than 310 miles, first going to the Miranda do Corvo region before heading further south to Alcacer do Sal.
The couple and their children stayed in a hotel in the town, located around 12 miles from where they were found.
French police are already aware of Marc, who is believed to suffer from a psychiatric disorder.
The children were left to wander through a wooded area between Alcacer do Sal and Comporta
They were given nothing more than a change of clothes, two pieces of fruit and some water
As Portuguese police continue their investigation and hunt for the couple, French prosecutors are opening a child neglect case.
On top of this, an ‘urgent legal procedure’ has been opened in the family and juvenile court in Santiago do Cacem, in southern Portugal.
Portuguese police have not formally confirmed that the children were kidnapped and abandoned, with a spokesman saying: ‘All possibilities are being considered.’
Experts fear that the children may suffer long-term psychological harm as a result of being abandoned.
Psychologist Melanie Tavares told CNN Portugal: ‘It’s the feeling of abandonment, of being lost, unprotected, of not having familiar resources to ultimately soothe the fear.’
She said being left in the woods may affect their emotional security and cause sleep difficulties, eating disorders, irritability and isolation.
Tavares said: ‘This will obviously bring, in the coming days, some symptoms to which those caring for these children will have to be very attentive.
‘We are talking about several situations, namely great difficulty in sleeping, falling asleep and maintaining sleep, changes in normal routines, including eating, irritability or even almost permanent isolation, as well as great difficulty, often, in accepting rules and the context in which they are, because none of this is familiar to these children.’
She added that the fact that the parents pretended to be playing a ‘game’ could result in a significant distrust in parental figures.
She said: ‘These children will be in constant distress, a great deal of distress from abandonment, and distress from separation.
‘This is a trauma that will remain, just like when we get a tattoo. It stays for life.’
EXCLUSIVE TO FOX: A man from California faces charges of attempted murder following an alleged attack that left another individual critically injured outside a residence in Escondido. The home is noted for its prominent displays of American flags, pro-Trump signage, and various other banners, as reported by local law enforcement.
Identified as Thomas Caleb Butler, the 32-year-old suspect is currently detained at the Vista Detention Facility located in San Diego County.
The incident unfolded at approximately 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday when Escondido police officers were dispatched to the scene of an assault at the intersection of East Mission Avenue and Buchanan Street.
Upon arrival, officers discovered an elderly man with severe injuries. Authorities also noted that a bystander, who attempted to intervene, sustained injuries during the altercation.
MAN IN INFLATABLE TRUMP COSTUME ASSAULTED DURING ‘NO KINGS’ PROTEST CAUGHT ON CAMERA
Police tape outside the Escondido home where an elderly man was critically injured and a good Samaritan hurt after intervening in an apparent attack. Police have arrested a 32-year-old man named Thomas Caleb Butler on an attempted murder charge.(onscene.tv)
By the time they arrived, the suspect had fled on foot, police said. However, additional officers found him about a half-mile away. Records show Butler lives around the corner from the victim.
Escondido police did not name the victim, who was hospitalized in critical condition. Public records show the property is owned by a 69-year-old man.
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Police speak near markers in the street outside an Escondido home where an elderly man was nearly killed Wednesday.(onscene.tv)
Anyone with information on the attack is asked to call Escondido police at (760) 839-4722 and reference case No. 26004339.
NEIGHBORHOOD TERROR CUTS DOWN TRUMP, US FLAGS AS POLICE HUNT FOR SUSPECT
Some neighbors have complained about the displays for years, which tower over the side of the property.
The American flags and other pro-Trump displays outside the home have led locals to dub it Escondido’s “Trump House.”(onscene.tv)
Video taken in the aftermath of the attack shows a man pointing responding officers toward something and then gesturing as though someone was being kicked or stomped.
Police placed evidence markers in the street and photographed the front of the home, near a mailbox and a parked pickup truck with two American flags set up over the bed.
Police man the perimeter after taping off the intersection near where an elderly man was almost killed in an attack Wednesday that led to attempted murder charges for the suspect, 32-year-old Thomas Caleb Butler, of Escondido, California.(onscene.tv)
Just a few feet away, another parked car had its hood propped open.
Another image showed what appeared to be blood at the foot of the driveway between the two vehicles.
An Escondido police officer moves down the front walkway outside the home where an elderly man was almost killed Wednesday in Southern California.(onscene.tv)
Escondido police did not immediately respond to a request for comment before West Coast business hours Thursday.
A Reddit post in the r/sandiego forum last year showed a man in a folding chair sitting on the sidewalk outside the home, with an American flag in his right hand and the left gesturing in what the poster described as a “Roman salute.”
As we age, maintaining cardiovascular health becomes increasingly important, yet many adults over 60 are daunted by high-impact exercises that strain the joints. There’s a misconception that intense workouts, like burpees, are necessary for building endurance quickly, but these can often do more harm than good by placing undue stress on areas like the knees, hips, and lower back. This stress leads many to abandon cardio exercise altogether, fearing injury or discomfort. Instead, the key to better cardiovascular fitness lies in consistent, low-impact movement that elevates the heart rate while allowing for proper recovery.
Low-impact exercises are a game-changer for older adults because they offer a way to build endurance without the jarring impact of more intense workouts. These exercises promote better circulation, enhance lung and heart strength, and boost stamina—all while minimizing joint stress. Moreover, they improve coordination, posture, and muscular endurance, contributing to superior movement quality in daily activities. Many people over 60 find that when they switch from high-impact routines to these smarter cardio options, they experience improved walking endurance and increased energy levels.
Here are five exercises that effectively elevate the heart rate while engaging the legs, core, and upper body through controlled, fluid movements. They enhance cardiovascular endurance without the need for jumping, sudden drops to the floor, or abrupt transitions. Incorporate these exercises regularly, and you’ll notice steady improvements in stamina, balance, and overall energy, all without the wear and tear commonly associated with more aggressive cardio workouts.
Low-impact exercises build endurance more effectively for many older adults because they keep the body moving continuously without heavy pounding or abrupt impact. These movements improve circulation, strengthen the lungs and heart, and increase stamina while protecting the joints from unnecessary stress. They also train coordination, posture, and muscular endurance at the same time, creating better overall movement quality during daily life. Many adults over 60 notice improved walking endurance and energy levels once they replace high-impact drills with smarter cardio training.
The five exercises below elevate the heart rate while strengthening the legs, core, and upper body through smooth, controlled movement. Each one challenges cardiovascular endurance without requiring jumping, floor drops, or explosive transitions. Perform them consistently, and your stamina, balance, and daily energy will start climbing steadily without the wear and tear that often comes with aggressive cardio routines.
Marching in Place
Marching in place looks simple, but few low-impact exercises improve cardiovascular endurance and coordination more effectively. The repeated knee drive increases heart rate while strengthening the hips, legs, and core through continuous movement. Many adults over 60 struggle with stamina because daily activity levels decline over time, causing the heart and lungs to work less efficiently. Marching restores rhythmic movement without placing impact stress on the knees or ankles. The upright posture also strengthens balance and coordination while encouraging better walking mechanics. Performed with controlled intensity, this exercise quickly builds endurance and circulation throughout the body.
How to Do It
Stand tall with feet hip-width apart
Tighten your core gently
Lift one knee toward your chest
Swing the opposite arm naturally
Alternate sides continuously
Maintain a tall posture
Move at a steady pace
Continue for 30 to 60 seconds.
Side Steps with Arm Swings
Side-stepping movements challenge the heart while improving lateral coordination and lower-body stability. Many adults move almost entirely forward throughout daily life, which weakens side-to-side movement control and balance. This exercise strengthens the legs and hips, while the arm swings increase upper-body involvement and cardiovascular demand. The constant motion keeps the heart rate elevated without forcing impact through the joints. Adults over 60 often notice improved agility and smoother movement during walking and turning after practicing lateral cardio drills consistently. The combination of arm and leg movement also improves total-body coordination and rhythm.
How to Do It
Stand with feet together
Step sideways with one foot
Bring the opposite foot inward
Swing your arms naturally as you move
Continue stepping side to side
Keep your chest lifted
Move smoothly and continuously
Perform for 30 to 45 seconds.
Standing Knee Drives
Standing knee drives elevate the heart rate while strengthening the core, hips, and legs at the same time. Unlike burpees that rely heavily on explosive force and rapid floor transitions, knee drives create cardiovascular demand through controlled repetitive movement. The repeated lifting motion activates the abdominal muscles while improving balance and coordination on the standing leg. Many adults over 60 benefit greatly from upright cardio exercises because they strengthen walking mechanics while remaining gentle on the joints. Faster movement increases intensity quickly without sacrificing safety or posture. Consistent practice improves stamina and lower-body endurance during everyday activity.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
How to Do It
Stand tall with feet shoulder-width apart
Tighten your core
Drive one knee upward
Swing the opposite arm forward
Lower with control
Alternate sides continuously
Maintain steady breathing
Continue for 30 to 45 seconds.
Heel-to-Toe Walks
Heel-to-toe walks strengthen balance and cardiovascular endurance simultaneously while improving lower-leg coordination. Many adults lose walking efficiency because the feet and ankles weaken over time, causing slower movement and reduced stability. This exercise forces the body to move with precision while keeping the heart and legs active continuously. The controlled walking pattern also strengthens posture and core engagement during movement. Adults over 60 often feel steadier and more confident walking after adding balance-focused cardio drills consistently. Slow controlled pacing creates excellent endurance work without harsh impact on the joints.
How to Do It
Stand tall with arms relaxed
Step one foot directly in front of the other
Place the heel against the opposite toes
Continue walking slowly in a straight line
Keep your eyes forward
Tighten your core gently
Maintain steady breathing
Walk for 20 to 30 steps.
Chair Squat Reaches
Chair squat reaches combine lower-body strength and cardio into one smooth movement pattern. The repeated standing and reaching motion raises the heart rate while strengthening the legs, glutes, shoulders, and core simultaneously. Many adults over 60 avoid squatting exercises because deep knee bending feels uncomfortable, but the chair provides support and confidence throughout the movement. Reaching overhead adds upper-body involvement, increasing cardiovascular demand without requiring jumping or explosive movement. This exercise also improves posture and mobility while training practical movement patterns used every day. Consistent repetition builds stamina quickly while remaining safe and joint-friendly.
The coaching lineup for Peter DeBoer’s inaugural full season with the New York Islanders is set to feature yet another alteration. Ray Bennett, a seasoned NHL assistant coach, will not be returning to the Islanders for the 2026-27 season. Instead, he will be joining the Washington Capitals as an assistant coach, a move announced by both teams recently.
The departure of Bennett from the Islanders was a mutual decision, according to Ethan Sears of The Post. This marks the second significant change in the Islanders’ coaching roster since their season concluded without a playoff berth. Earlier this month, Rocky Thompson, who served as the AHL head coach for Bridgeport, was elevated to the NHL staff after just one year with the team.
In a statement, the Islanders expressed their gratitude towards Bennett, saying, “The organization would like to thank Ray for his hard work and dedication to the organization last season.”
Assistant coach Ray Bennett of the New York Islanders works the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at UBS Arena on April 09, 2026 in Elmont, New York. Getty Images
Bennett, who previously lent his expertise to the Blues and Kings, joined the Islanders last year to assist Patrick Roy, following his tenure with the Avalanche where he managed their power play. Despite his efforts, the Islanders’ power play performance remained lackluster, ending the regular season with the third-worst record in the NHL at a 16.5 percent success rate.
Bennett, who also spent time as an assistant with the Blues and Kings, arrived last year as an addition to Patrick Roy’s staff after a stint with the Avalanche running their power play, but the Islanders’ unit kept struggling and finished with the third-worst unit in the NHL during the regular season at 16.5 percent.
Over the final 12 games of the regular season, with the Islanders clinging to their playoff hopes, they converted just five of their 34-man advantage opportunities, and that percentage worsened to just 2-for-18 across their final six games.
That, somehow, marked an improvement from their 12.5 percent rate from 2024-25.
Matthew Schaefer, who won the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year, led the Islanders with eight power-play goals while Bo Horvat added seven, but no one else collected more than five.
New York Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer looks on during the third period against the Ottawa Senators at UBS Arena, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Elmont, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
It’ll serve as a primary issue for DeBoer, who coached the final four games after Patrick Roy’s firing, and his staff to solve entering next season, and now, with Bennett not returning, someone else will be tasked with running it, too.
The courtroom was filled with emotion as a judge cleared a former assistant principal of criminal charges connected to a tragic incident in Virginia where a six-year-old shot a teacher. Ebony Parker, who previously served as vice principal at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, was initially charged with eight felony counts of child neglect following the January 2023 shooting.
The incident left first-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner with gunshot wounds to her chest and hand after a young student brought a firearm from home and used it to shoot her. Despite the severity of the incident, Parker maintained her innocence, pleading not guilty to the charges against her.
Prosecutors had alleged that Parker failed to act on multiple warnings regarding the child’s aggressive and violent behavior, which could have safeguarded both Zwerner and other students. However, in a pivotal moment, Judge Rebecca Robinson dismissed the charges on Thursday, asserting that Parker had not violated any laws.
Parker, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, had been accused of failing to take any action to protect Zwerner or students after being warned multiple times about the six-year-old’s violent and aggressive behavior toward others.
Judge Rebecca Robinson dismissed the case against Parker on Thursday, claiming the former assistant principal did not break the law.
‘If [Parker’s actions] are meant to amount to a crime, the legislature will need to codify it,’ the judge said.
‘Therefore, I do grant the defense motion to strike in full on all counts, all eight counts of felony child abuse and endangerment.’
Parker sobbed in court as the judge spoke, then walked out of the courthouse without speaking to reporters, according to WTKR.
Ebony Parker, the ex-vice principal of Richneck Elementary School in Virginia, sobbed as the criminal charges against her were dismissed on Thursday
First-grade teacher Abigail Zwerner suffered gunshot wounds to her chest and hand after a young boy brought in his mother’s gun and fired at her
Zwerner’s family issued a statement to the media saying she is ready to put this incident behind her.
‘We are happy that this tragic event is behind Abby,’ the statement, sent by Karen Piere, Abby’s aunt, said,
‘As devastating as this shooting was, may it bring change to the education system in our country so that violent children are not placed in a general education classroom, and I hope that administrators are held accountable if this were to happen again for violent behavior.’
On Tuesday, Zwerner testified that she told Parker about the boy’s ‘violent mood’ that day. She had also heard from Amy Kovac, the class reading specialist, that he may have had a firearm.
Zwerner said that Kovac went to report this to Parker. Later, at recess, Zwerner said she noticed that the boy was wearing an oversized jacket and holding his hands in his pockets for the whole time.
While at recess, the boy stared down the school security officer while Zwerner talked to her, she testified.
‘I witnessed the student was staring her down, very focused on her and he slowly got up from his seat and ever so slowly approached, still not breaking eye contact at the security officer and that stuck out to me as well,’ she said on the stand.
When they were back in class, the boy approached her with the gun in hand, she testified. She was then shot through her hand and chest, which led to permanent physical injuries.
Parker, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, had been accused of failing to take any action to protect Zwerner or students
Zwerner testified on Tuesday that she told Parker about the boy’s ‘violent mood’ that day
‘I saw the student looking at me. I looked over. A gun was pointed right at me. He was holding a gun, the student. It was pointed right at me. And then I was shot,’ she said.
In November, Parker was ordered to pay Zwerner $10 million in gross negligence lawsuit.
In that lawsuit, Zwerner detailed telling Parker that the boy was in a violent mood, had threatened to beat up a kindergartener, and stared down a security officer in the lunchroom.
It also alleged that Parker had no response, refusing even to look up when Zwerner expressed her concerns.
When concerns were raised that the child may have transferred the gun from his backpack to his pocket, Parker said his ‘pockets were too small to hold a handgun and did nothing,’ the lawsuit states.
A guidance counselor also asked Parker for permission to search the boy, but Parker forbade him and stated that John Doe’s mother would be arriving soon to pick him up, the lawsuit stated.
Zwerner was sitting at a reading table in front of the class when the boy fired the gun, police said.
Judge Rebecca Robinson dismissed the case against Parker on Thursday, claiming the former assistant principal did not break the law
In November, Parker was ordered to pay Zwerner $10 million in gross negligence lawsuit
She spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and has endured multiple surgeries as well as ongoing emotional trauma, according to her lawsuit.
Zwerner also claimed to not have full use of her left hand. A bullet also remains in her chest.
The shooting also occurred on the student’s first day back in the classroom after he was suspended for slamming Zwerner’s phone.
The boy’s mother, Deja Taylor, pleaded guilty to felony child neglect and was sentenced to two years in prison in 2023.
Criminal charges were never filed against the student.
Authorities from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are actively searching for a suspect involved in an alleged assault on a woman within a Harvard dormitory on Tuesday night.
The incident unfolded as a woman attempted to enter her dorm room at Harvard University. According to police reports, a man approached her from behind, covered her mouth, and tried to drag her into the room. Fortunately, bystanders intervened, prompting the suspect to flee the scene. Harvard campus police received a report of the attack and responded promptly at 5:41 p.m.
Despite efforts to locate the suspect, police were unsuccessful. The man reportedly gained access to the residence hall by following someone else inside, although he did not have authorization to be there.
The MIT police disclosed that an assault matching this description also occurred on their campus on Tuesday night, suggesting the incidents may be connected.
For more insights and discussions on crime-related issues, consider tuning into the new ‘Crime & Justice with Donna Rotunno’ podcast.
The same man allegedly entered a residence hall at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Tuesday night by following someone else into the building, MIT police said in a statement. Police said the man was “acting suspiciously” after using a side entrance to get into the building at 5:45 p.m.
COLLEGE STUDENT ASSAULTED AS ALLEGED SECURITY LAPSES LET ATTACKER SLIP ONTO CAMPUS: REPORT
Dunster House residence hall stands along the Charles River on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 27, 2025.(Sophie Park/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Officials said the man left the dorm hall at 5:59 p.m., citing security camera video. MIT police said he matched the description of the person who allegedly assaulted a Harvard student.
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The Great Dome exterior at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus in Cambridge, Mass., on Oct. 21, 2025.(Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire)
Police described the suspect as a white male, 5’9″, had a thin build, and was wearing a white T-shirt with dark colored shorts.
Harvard Lowell House Faculty Deans David Laibson and Nina Zipser sent an email to residents in the dorm, saying that a police officer is “now patrolling the area” and said residents can join them “to be together as we come to terms with what has happened,” according to the Harvard Crimson.
Harvard officials reminded students to watch for people trying to follow them into restricted campus buildings after the incident.
People with information about the incidents are encouraged to contact MIT police at 617-258-TIPS.
Adam Sabes is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10.
The Trump administration has heightened tensions with Cuba by indicting former Cuban President Raúl Castro for his alleged role in the 1996 incident involving the downing of civilian planes flown by exiles based in Miami. This move is seen as an effort to increase pressure on Cuba’s socialist regime.
In a separate development, Senate Republicans are poised to drop a controversial proposal that would allocate $1 billion for security enhancements at the White House complex and for President Trump’s ballroom. This decision is expected to be announced on Thursday.
Additionally, President Trump’s ambitious plan to construct a triumphal arch in Washington is under review. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a federal body that oversees such projects, is reassessing the proposal after suggesting modifications before granting its initial approval last month.
Democrats rally at Capitol against GOP funding bill
In other political news, House and Senate Democrats gathered on the Capitol steps to voice their opposition to a Republican-backed funding bill aimed at increasing immigration enforcement.
By emphasizing the White House’s initial proposal to allocate $1 billion for its own security, Democrats aim to highlight the contrast with their priorities. They argue that Congress should prioritize initiatives that make life more affordable for average Americans, rather than focusing on security measures that benefit the administration.
“Ballroom Republicans are not working for you, they are busy fighting for Trump,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. “The American people are watching and in November, they will be watching.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, for his part, said “immigration enforcement in this country should be fair. It should be just, and it should be humane.”
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Cuban government points to US airstrikes on boats in Latin American waters
Cuba is accusing the Trump administration of hypocrisy for indicting former President Raul Castro in the downing of civilian planes near its coast 30 years ago, noting that the U.S. president is responsible for many more killings of civilians in international waters this year.
“It is highly cynical that this accusation is made by the same government that has murdered nearly 200 people and destroyed 57 vessels in international waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific, far from the territory of the United States,” the Cuban government response said, adding that the killings “qualify as extrajudicial executions, in accordance with International Law, and murders, according to US laws.”
Trump has justified the attacks as necessary to stem the flow of drugs, while offering little evidence that “narcoterrorists” are in the boats.
The Pentagon inspector general announced a review of whether the attacks on alleged drug-smuggling boats followed an established targeting framework, but said it would not probe the legality of the strikes, which have drawn intense scrutiny.
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Trump will ease refrigerant rule in effort to address surging grocery costs
The Trump administration is set to loosen a federal rule that requires grocery stores and air-conditioning companies to reduce greenhouse gases used in cooling equipment. The head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, said American families will see lower grocery prices as a result. Trump is scheduled to be joined by executives from Kroger, Piggly Wiggly and other grocery chains for Thursday’s announcement.
Just how much or how quickly loosening the refrigerant rule might ease grocery prices is unclear. The 2020 law reflected a broad bipartisan consensus on the need to quickly phase out domestic use of hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, that are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide and are considered a major driver of global warming.
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Timeline of relations between the US and Cuba
Trump has been escalating talk about regime change in Cuba ever since he sent the U.S. military to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. Now a federal indictment of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro is raising questions about whether Trump might try something similar in Havana.
Here’s a timeline of U.S. relations with the communist-run island, including repeated meetings with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of Castro known as “Raúlito.”
China opposes US sanctions and pressure on Cuba
“China always firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law and have no authorization from the United Nations Security Council and the abuse of judicial measures, and we also oppose external forces exerting pressure on Cuba under any pretext,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiankun said Thursday.
The U.S. should “stop wielding the stick of sanctions and judicial measures” against the country, Guo added. “China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and national dignity and opposes external interference.”
Trump’s proposed Washington arch gets another review
Trump’s plan to build a triumphal arch in Washington is getting a second look from a federal agency that suggested changes before it approved the concept last month.
The proposed 250-foot (76 meter) arch is one of several projects the Republican president is pursuing alongside a White House ballroom to leave his imprint on Washington. Critics of the project, including an overwhelming number of people who submitted public comment in April, said the arch would be taller than any other monument in the capital city and dominate the skyline.
He has said some of his other projects, such as adding a blue coating to the interior of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, will beautify the city in time for July 4 celebrations of America’s 250th birthday.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed by Trump, approved the concept for the arch at its monthly meeting in April. Commissioners are set to consider and possibly vote on updated plans when they meet again on Thursday.
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Young Republicans wrestle with their disappointment in Trump and their party
The more than a dozen young Republicans who gathered with beers and brightly colored cocktails at a bar called dEcORa in Kentucky this week were picking apart the presidential administration they welcomed with high hopes last year.
By now, their enthusiasm for Trump had curdled into frustration. What poured out at the bar was a sense that the Republican establishment — which they initially applauded Trump for disrupting, but which some now see him sustaining — had forsaken them.
That festering feeling has widened a generational gap between younger and older conservatives as the party slowly begins to consider a future without Trump in charge.
The Republican primary defeat of Rep. Thomas Massie — who had earned a younger and anti-establishment following while feuding with Trump — cost them one of their strongest allies in Congress.
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Republicans expected to abandon $1B security proposal for White House and Trump’s ballroom
Senate Republican leaders are expected to abandon a proposal for $1 billion in security money for the White House complex and Trump’s ballroom on Thursday after members of their own party questioned the timing and the lack of detail in the Secret Service request.
Pressured by the White House, Republicans have tried to add the money to a roughly $70 billion bill to restore funding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. But the security proposal met with backlash from some GOP lawmakers who are questioning the cost and how the taxpayer dollars would be used.
The bill’s text has not yet been released, but the Senate hopes to pass it this week and send it to the House before leaving for a weeklong Memorial Day recess.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said the effort to add the security package to the bill was a “bad idea” and he does not think there is enough backing to pass it, even if the cost were reduced.
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US indictment raises pressure as Cuba’s president condemns charges
Federal prosecutors on Wednesday announced criminal charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro in the 1996 downing of civilian planes flown by Miami-based exiles as the Trump administration escalated pressure on the island’s socialist government.
The indictment accuses Castro of ordering the shootdown of two small planes operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro, who turns 95 next month, was Cuba’s defense minister at the time. The charges, which were secretly filed by a grand jury in April, included murder and destruction of an airplane. Five Cuban military pilots were also charged.
Asked to what lengths American authorities would go to bring Castro to face charges in the U.S., acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said: “There was a warrant issued for his arrest. So we expect that he will show up here, by his own will or by another way.”
The charges pose a real threat, observers said, following the capture by U.S. forces in January of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to face drug charges in New York.
Acting Superintendent Michael Moroney noted that investigators suspect the victims are the man’s wife and children.
This heartbreaking event unfolded just a day after a statewide operation concluded, which targeted individuals with prior domestic violence offenses, resulting in charges against over 900 people.
Sherele Moody, founder of Australian Femicide Watch, has said that the deaths underpin the need for a royal commission into the killing of women and girls in Australia.
“It would lay bare the systemic failures that underpin the violent deaths of women and girls, and the only way we can understand those failures is to listen to the stories of the families who’ve lost victims,” she said.
“We’d look at the reality of the funding levels that we need. We are nowhere near the funding levels that should be in place. We’d look at the flaws in the legal system, in the policing system.”
Femicide Watch tracks the deaths of women and girls due to violence in Australia. It has recorded nine children and 29 adults this year alone. Domestic and family violence are key drivers, but Moody said around 40 per cent are lost to other forms of violence.
A royal commission would also allow victims and their families to tell their story, with a focus on diverse, marginalised and multicultural voices, she added.
Australia already knows ‘what’s required’
More than 93,000 people have signed a petition calling for a royal commission amid an ongoing strain on women’s shelters and other frontline services.
On Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed the idea.
“There’s calls for a royal commission about everything,” Albanese told Hobart’s Hit 100.9.
“We know what’s required here. We know that there’s too much violence against women.
“We know what keeps women in these relationships, we know what’s required in terms of the economic support to get out.
“We know there’s a need for more alternative housing. We know there’s a need for more counselling and for community workers. And we need to get on with action.”
Albanese said his government has invested $4.4 billion towards ending gendered violence, including $100 million for crisis accommodation, and 10-days paid family and domestic violence leave.
Activist Sherele Moody has called on the government to launch a royal commission into femicide. Source: Supplied / Sherele Moody
The government has also introduced a $5,000 leaving violence payment, and created an additional 500 family and children violence jobs.
However, the prime minister’s response did not convince Moody, who said it was dismissive and “out of date”.
She added that years of documenting femicide have shown her there are systemic failures that a royal commission could help expose.
“No matter what the government has invested in keeping women safe, it’s not working. It is not even touching the sides,” she said.
‘We need more action’
The National Alliance of Domestic and Family Violence Specialists said in a statement it understands the call for a royal commission but there’s no time to wait for another report.
National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence commissioner Micaela Cronin agrees.
“We have thousands of recommendations and we don’t need more reviews. We need more action,” she said.
“I understand the call and I understand what’s behind it and I am enormously supportive of the work of Sherele Moody and others that are advocating for this. It’s complicated.”
She said the sector has voiced its concern that a royal commission could lead to delays while the government waits for recommendations.
She’s pushing for greater alignment between Commonwealth, state, and territory governments, transitioning towards a whole-of-government approach, and more stable funding.
The commissioner wants to see more energy and resources invested in a second 10-year government action plan that is currently under development.
“The intent and the objective is to end domestic family and sexual violence in one generation. So it’s a very ambitious goal,” she said.
The first plan aimed to reduce gendered violence, and Cronin says that work laid important foundations, including the establishment of the Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, prevention organisation Our Watch, and the national helpline 1800-RESPECT.
She said the next national action plan will also increase the priority placed on prevention and stopping gendered violence at its source.
Phillip Ripper, chief executive of No to Violence, an organisation working to end men’s use of family violence, has also pushed back against the prime minister’s opposition to a royal commission.
Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence commissioner Micaela Cronin has dismissed calls for a royal comission. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
“It’s easy for him to say, ‘We know what needs to be done’. If that’s the case, why isn’t he getting on and doing it?” he asked.
“If he’s not going to support a royal commission, what is he going to do? How is this government going to address the issue of women dying week in, week out at the hands of men?”
While there have been a slew of reviews, inquiries, and state-based royal commissions, Ripper said a royal commission could focus the issue.
The idea has garnered some support among parliamentarians, including from independents Lidia Thorpe and Zali Steggall.
Steggall says a royal commission elevates an issue to national prominence, and the fact that there hasn’t been one sends a signal that the lives of women and children aren’t being prioritised.
She added that NSW has seen a 49 per cent surge in high-risk referrals, and cites financial stress, alcohol availability, and gambling as factors where there should be reform.
Last week’s federal budget, which contained limited new funding, also affirmed her view that the sector is being underfunded.
Greens leader and spokesperson for women Larissa Waters agrees.
“It’s pretty clear that what we’re currently doing isn’t working,” she said.
She added that new funding for the federal National Action Plan to end violence against women and children would have had material impacts on the ground.
On the question of a royal commission, she said the Greens will be led by the sector.
Cronin acknowledged that stretched services are having to turn some women away, and achieving the goal of ending gendered violence will take a great effort, but that royal commissions are expensive and take time.
“I am concerned that we need to invest more effort and resources into implementing the second action plan,” she said, adding that the government aims to launch the plan next year.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
Readers seeking crisis support can ring Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available at beyondblue.org.au and on 1300 22 4636.
WASHINGTON — Supporters of former President Joe Biden did not adequately back former Vice President Kamala Harris as she geared up for the intense 107-day campaign leading to the 2024 Election Day. This insight comes from a draft of the Democratic National Committee’s analysis of Donald Trump’s significant win, which was marred by numerous errors.
On Thursday, CNN unveiled the draft, which criticized Biden’s team for neglecting to conduct early polling on Harris before the 46th president decided to step down from his re-election campaign in July. It also highlighted their failure to effectively counter the perception of Harris as an ineffective “border czar.”
The report stated, “The national campaign was unsuccessful in highlighting Trump’s shortcomings, and there was insufficient support from the White House for Vice President Harris over the years to bolster her reputation ahead of the transition.” The document further noted that Harris’s role in immigration had been “misrepresented by Republican narratives.”
The White House did not effectively support Vice President Harris over three and half years to improve her standing before the candidate switch,” according to a draft of the DNC’s “autopsy” of Donald Trump’s 2024 victory. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post
“Though it wasn’t her official designation, the media perpetuated this label, and the White House did not take adequate steps to challenge or rectify it,” the report continued.
Another revealing portion of the analysis observed, “The Republican triumph in 2024 was largely due to their ability to extract more lessons from President Obama’s 2008 victory than the Democrats managed to do.”
“The GOP’s campaign was powered by data, amplified by social media, and enabled by ardent supporters at every level.”
The DNC and Chairman Ken Martin had come under intense pressure to publicly release the report, with even Harris herself urging its disclosure.
In a statement Thursday, Martin said the party opted to release the autopsy after learning that CNN planned to run an in-depth piece on it.
“I am not proud of this product; it does not meet my standards, and it won’t meet your standards,” the DNC chairman said. “I don’t endorse what’s in this report, or what’s left out of it. I could not in good faith put the DNC’s stamp of approval on it.
Former Vice President Harris makes remarks accepting her party’s nomination on day 4 of the 2024 DNC at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post
“But transparency is paramount. So, today I am releasing the report as I received it – in its entirety, unedited and unabridged – with annotations for claims that couldn’t be verified.”
