US government is investigating messages impersonating Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles

US government is investigating messages impersonating Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is investigating after elected officials, business executives and other prominent figures in recent weeks received messages from someone impersonatingSusie Wiles, PresidentDonald Trump's chief of staff. A White House official said Friday the matter is under investigation and the White House takes cybersecurity of its staff seriously. ,The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The FBI did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. TheWall Street Journal reported Thursdaythat senators, governors, business leaders and others began receiving text messages and phone calls from someone who seemed to have gained access to the contacts in Wiles' personal cellphone. The messages and calls were not coming from Wiles number, the newspaper reported. It is unclear how the person gained access to Wiles' phone, but the intrusion is the latest security breach for Trump staffers.Last year, Iran hacked into Trump's campaignand sensitive internal documents were stolen and distributed, including a dossier on Vice President JD Vance, created before he was selected as Trump's running mate. Wiles, who served as a co-manager of Trump's campaign before taking on the lynchpin role in his new administration, has amassed a powerful network of contacts. Some of those who received calls heard a voice that sounded like Wiles that may have been generated byartificial intelligence, according to the report. Some received text messages that they initially thought were official White House requests but some people reported the messages did not sound like Wiles. ___ Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

US government is investigating messages impersonating Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles

US government is investigating messages impersonating Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is investigat...

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Supreme Court lets Trump revoke safe-haven program for Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans

Supreme Court lets Trump revoke safe-haven program for Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans

WASHINGTON − TheSupreme Courton May 30 said theTrump administrationcanrevoke the temporary legal statusof hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans living in the United States. Two of the court's liberal justices – Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor – dissented. The administration wants to cut short a program that provided a two-year haven for immigrants because of economic, security, political and health crises in their home countries. Lawyers for the migrants said half a million people lawfully in the country will become subject to deportation, what it called the "largest mass illegalization event in modern American history." Labor unions and communities that have welcomed the migrants said they've filled gaps in key industries, including healthcare, construction and manufacturing. Nearly 20% of the workers at one automotive parts manufacturer are in the temporary program, according to labor unions. The Trump administration said it's determined the migrants' presence in the United States is "against the national interests" and the courts don't get to decide otherwise. The move is part of the PresidentDonald Trump'scrackdown on immigrationandpush to ramp up deportations, including of noncitizens previously granted a legal right to live and work in the United States. TheBiden administration hoped the programwould deter migrants from those countries from trying to enter the country illegally. But theTrumpadministration cancelled people's work permits and deportation protections, arguing the program failed as a deterrent and makes it harder to enforce immigration laws for those already in the country. Immigrant rights groups challenged the change on behalf of the immigrants and their sponsors. A federal judge in Massachusettssaidthe abrupt curtailing of the program was based on a legal error, as the administration wrongly concluded that letting the temporary status naturally expire would foreclose the Homeland Security Department's ability to legally expedite their deportations. District Judge Indira Talwani, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, also said early cancellation of protections requires a case-by-case review for each participant. A three-judge panel of the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of AppealsbackedTalwani's decision to temporarily block mass cancellation. All three judges were appointed by Democratic presidents. The Justice Department argued the lower courts are "undoing democratically approved policies that featured heavily in the November election." Lawyers for a group of cities and counties said the abrupt cancellation of the program "would case severe economic and societal harms." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Supreme Court lets Trump revoke migrants' temporary status

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Supreme Court lets Trump revoke safe-haven program for Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans

Supreme Court lets Trump revoke safe-haven program for Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans WASHINGTON − TheSupreme Courton May 30 ...

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Chrisley family to hold first press conference since Trump's presidential pardon

Chrisley family to hold first press conference since Trump's presidential pardon

The Chrisley family is set to address reporters on Friday, days after the formerly jailed reality TV starsTodd and Julie Chrisleywerepardoned by President Donald Trumpand released from federal prison. The family will be holding a press conference at 10:30 a.m. CT, 11:30 a.m. ET, at the Kimpton Aertson Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, flanked by their attorneys. It is unclear if Todd and Julie Chrisley will be present. Trump issued pardons to the Chrisleys on Wednesday. The pair, known for their roles on reality TV show "Chrisley Knows Best," were convicted in 2022 of tax evasion and defrauding banks to obtain personal loans worth more than $36 million and fund a lavish lifestyle. Prosecutorssaidthat the Chrisleys submitted false bank statements, audit reports and personal financial statements to Georgia community banks to obtain the loans. They were found guilty by an Atlanta jury in 2022 andconvicted of fraud, tax evasion and conspiracyto defraud the United States. Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison and Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years. Their daughter, Savannah Chrisley, was pivotal in getting her parents released. The 27-year-old spoke at the Republican National Convention in July and began petitioning Trump to pardon her parents before the president was inaugurated, according to the Chrisleys' attorney, Alex Little. Little told NBC News on Wednesday that the family did not try to petition the Biden administration for the couple's release. Julie Chrisley made her first public outing on Thursday, to a butcher shop in Nashville, Tennessee. The 52-year-old was sporting her natural hair color, gray. Later that day, Savannah Chrisley also posted selfies with her father on Instagram and captioned the images: "To the paparazzi following us looking to pay your bills… here's your photo." The Chrisleys' pardons were amongseveral presidential clemencies to raise eyebrowsin recent months. Former President Joe Bidenissued a pardonfor his son Hunter Biden on federal gun and tax charges in December, andpre-emptive pardonsfor other members of his family before leaving office. Within his first days of his second term, Trumppardoned roughly 1,500 criminal defendantsin connection with the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. And on Monday, Trump announced he was pardoningScott Jenkins, a former sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia. The former sheriff was sentenced to 10 years in prison last year for acceptingover $75,000in exchange for giving law enforcement authority to local businessmen, in addition to two undercover FBI agents. The Chrisleys' former accountant, who was found guilty in 2022 of defrauding the Internal Revenue Service,told the Atlanta Journal-Constitutionon Wednesday that he also plans to petition the Trump administration for a pardon. The accountant, Peter Tarantino, served three years in prison for the crimes. Chase Chrisley, one of the convicted couple's sons, did not rule out whether his parents would return to reality TV in an interview with "Entertainment Tonight" on Thursday. He cautioned that "there's no deal in place for my parents." Chase added that cameras were rolling when he and his siblings first spoke with their parents by telephone after their pardons were announced. "You guys will see it. And it's just been raw reality and truth of, like, the struggles that we've been going through as a family, as individuals and how to navigate that while still staying together and holding our family together," he said. It is unclear if the reality stars will be filming the press conference on Friday.

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Chrisley family to hold first press conference since Trump's presidential pardon

Chrisley family to hold first press conference since Trump's presidential pardon The Chrisley family is set to address reporters on Frid...

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Our mission is to give you the information you need to stay informed

Our mission is to give you the information you need to stay informed

Trust is at the heart of our relationship with our audience. USA TODAY's brand was built on connecting with people through balanced, high-quality journalism and creative, concise storytelling. We speak to you, not at you. At a time of political polarization, our mission is to give you the information you need to stay informed, not to tell youwhatto think. A recent survey of our readers shows the value they place upon this approach. "Comprehensive. Trustworthy. Well written" were adjectives one reader used to describe our content. "It has the news that I can trust in a format that I like," said another. One reader said they are "getting the latest and greatest information" from USA TODAY and feel informed on their favorite topics of sports, movies and entertainment, "but getting trusted info is very important in all categories." Our stories are engaging and people-focused. We are facts-forward. And we are dedicated to service journalism: Informing you with the aim of helping you live your best life. With our sports and entertainment news, we capture the moments and events that bring you joy — and sometimes heartache. Every day, we aspire to forge a deep connection with our readers, viewers and listeners. We know you are bombarded with content. If our stories don't speak to you – if they aren't compelling – you won't make time for them. Nor should you. But we're here to serve you. We want to talk with you, not at you. Welcome to USA TODAY. Caren BohanEditor in Chief This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:USA TODAY: How we focus on news that speaks to you, not at you

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Our mission is to give you the information you need to stay informed

Our mission is to give you the information you need to stay informed Trust is at the heart of our relationship with our audience. USA TODAY...

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Trump accuses China of violating Geneva trade agreement

Trump accuses China of violating Geneva trade agreement

President Donald Trump sent stock futures diving early Friday after he accused China of breaking the handshake pact the two countries made in Geneva earlier this month that had helped reset a trade standoff. In a post on Truth Social just after 8 a.m. ET, Trump wrote China "HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US" and signaled a tough response lay ahead. "So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!" the president said. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures fell about 0.5%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures declined about 0.4%. The "trade win" announced by the White House May 12 was expected to lead to China removing retaliatory tariffs and a suspension of "non-tariff countermeasures taken against the United States." Both sides agreed to lower tariffs on each other by 115% for 90 days. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, speakingon CNBC Friday morningas Trump posted his message, said "this has been something that we've been discussing" since meeting with China in Geneva. "The Chinese are slow rolling their compliance, which is completely unacceptable," Greer added. "You make every effort to be diplomatic and professional and to do things behind closed doors. But at some point the impact on on the U.S. economy, or the trade relationship, becomes such that it's hard to withhold that anymore," he continued. On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said trade talks with China were "a bit stalled." Bessent said he believed there would be more talks in the coming weeks but "given the magnitude of the talks," Trump and Xi would likely need to "weigh in with each other" first. The matter hit a further snag Thursday after an appeals courttemporarily reinstateda set of tariffs a federal trade court had voided just hours earlier, casting fresh doubt on the path forward for Trump's tariffs gambit. The case is expected to make its way to the Supreme Court. There has been almost no resolution in the market fluctuations Trump's trade war has set off. The week's back-and-forth court opinionserasedmost of the stock gains from the first decision. Yet before Trump's Friday post, stocks were poised for a weekly gain. Since Trump took office, the S&P 500 has fallen approximately 2% — a modest decline that masks substantial weekly and even daily swings.

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Trump accuses China of violating Geneva trade agreement

Trump accuses China of violating Geneva trade agreement President Donald Trump sent stock futures diving early Friday after he accused China...

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Analysis-Global economy's 'sugar rush' defies trade drama - for now

Analysis-Global economy's 'sugar rush' defies trade drama - for now

By Francesco Canepa FRANKFURT (Reuters) -For all the drama surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, the world economy is holding up better than many had expected. The latest data from the United States, China and, to a lesser extent, Europe are showing resilience and the global economy as a whole is still expected to grow modestly this year. This is in part due to U.S. buyers and foreign sellers bringing forward business while many of the import duties unveiled by U.S. President Donald Trump remain suspended. While that effect may prove short-lived, Trump's decision to pause tariffs and some glimpses of progress in trade talks, particularly between the United States and the European Union, have fuelled cautious optimism. "We are seeing a bit of a sugar rush in industry, with manufacturers bringing forward production and trade," said Holger Schmieding, an economist at investment bank Berenberg. "The other thing is that we have evidence that Trump pedalled back on tariffs. The bet in markets and to some extent in the economy is that he barks but doesn't bite." Investment banks and institutions generally expect the United States to avoid a recession this year and the global economy to keep growing. The International Monetary Fund downgraded its global GDP growth forecast by just 0.5 percentage points last month to 2.8%. This is roughly in line with the trend over the past decade and a far cry from the downturns experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2008 financial crisis or even the turmoil that followed the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. No one is venturing a prediction on where the trade negotiations will eventually settle, particularly with a U.S. president who sees himself as unstoppable. This week alone, separate U.S. courts first blocked and then reinstated Trump's tariffs - creating a degree of legal uncertainty that will do little to facilitate trade deals between the United States and those threatened with the levies. While the EU celebrated "new impetus" in its trade talks with the United States, negotiations with China were "a bit stalled" according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Companies are counting the cost of the ongoing impasse. A Reuters analysis of corporate disclosures shows Trump's trade war had cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs, a toll that is expected to rise as ongoing uncertainty over tariffs paralyses decision making at some of the world's largest companies. Car-makers from Japan's Toyota to Germany's Porsche and Mercedes-Benz are bracing for lower, or lower-than-previously expected profits if they have not given up making predictions altogether, like Volvo Cars and Dutch-based Stellantis. This is likely to result in a hit especially for Japan. The United States is Japan's biggest export destination, accounting for 21 trillion yen ($146.16 billion) worth of goods, with automobiles representing roughly 28% of the total. "While the worst shocks may be over, there's still a lot up in the air," Xingchen Yu, a strategist at UBS's Chief Investment Office, said. "We don't really know what a new normal for tariffs would look like, unfortunately." PAYBACK But so far the global economy has held up pretty well. China's output and exports are resilient as its companies re-route trade to the United States via third countries. Even in Europe, manufacturing activity was at a 33-month high in May, rebounding from a slump induced by more expensive fuel following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Confidence was also buttressed by the prospect of greater fiscal spending in Germany, a missing ingredient for European growth for the past couple of decades. The robustness of the world economy has surprised even professional forecasters. A measure produced by U.S. bank Citi that tracks the degree to which global economic data has surprised to the upside is now at its highest in more than a year.    Some of that strength circles back to the tariffs themselves and the attempts by U.S. households and businesses to front-load purchases to beat anticipated price increases later this year. U.S. imports were up around 30% in March from where they were in October. The risk to the upbeat outlook comes from the expected "payback" of those advance purchases, which are unlikely to be repeated and will mean slower activity - in the U.S. and elsewhere - later. Economists still fear a triple whammy in which the front-loaded boost to the goods sector is unwound while U.S. household purchasing power is squeezed by higher prices and companies put off investment and hiring. At the margin, however, this scenario is starting to appear a little less likely after Trump's pause on tariffs. "The balance has slightly shifted towards more optimism, albeit with uncertainty and volatility," ING's global head of macro Carsten Brzeski said. ($1 = 143.6800 yen) (Additional reporting by Dan Burns in Washington, Claire Fu in Singapore, Ellen Zhang in Beijing and Leika Kihara in Tokyo; Editing by Mark John and Jane Merriman)

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Analysis-Global economy's 'sugar rush' defies trade drama - for now

Analysis-Global economy's 'sugar rush' defies trade drama - for now By Francesco Canepa FRANKFURT (Reuters) -For all the drama s...

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Advanced colon cancer patients lived twice as long with a Pfizer combo therapy, trial finds

Advanced colon cancer patients lived twice as long with a Pfizer combo therapy, trial finds

A combination drug treatment doubled survival time for patients with an aggressive form ofcolorectal cancer, according to late-stage trial data published Friday inThe New England Journal of Medicineand presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago. The three-treatment combination included a standard chemotherapy drug, an antibody drug called cetuximab and a pill from Pfizer called Braftovi, which targets acancer mutation called BRAF V600E. The mutation shows up in about 10% of patients with colorectal cancer, said Dr. Lionel Kankeu Fonkoua, a gastrointestinal oncologist at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Patients with the mutation tend to survive for less than a year after diagnosis, and they often don't respond well to standard chemotherapy treatments, said Fonkoua, who wasn't involved with the new trial. According to Pfizer, the risk of death for these patients is more than double compared with those without the mutation. Braftovi was initially approved in 2020 to be used with cetuximab in this group of patients after other treatments had failed. The new trial looked at the drug combination as a so-called first-line therapy. The Food and Drug Administrationgranted the treatment fast-track approval as a first-line approach in Decemberon the condition that Pfizer provide additional data confirming its effectiveness. The agency often grants fast-track approval to treatments that address serious or life-threatening conditions, especially when there's an unmet medical need. Dr. Christopher Lieu, a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine who wasn't involved with the research, called the results "very impactful." "Patients are clearly living longer, and this represents the new standard of care for this specific subset of patients with this specific mutation," Lieu said. The trial included more than 600 patients with the mutation who had metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients were randomized to get either the three-drug combination treatment or standard chemotherapy alone. Some of the patients in the latter group were also given bevacizumab, a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. The trial found that patients who got the combination treatment lived, on average, about 30 months, compared with about 15 months for those who got standard chemotherapy, with or without bevacizumab. What's more, 47% of patients who got the combination treatment had no disease progression after two years, meaning their cancer didn't grow or spread. The treatment was well-tolerated, with no unexpected safety concerns that would've caused investigators to stop the trial. "This is a really remarkable finding," said Dr. Scott Kopetz, a professor of gastrointestinal medical oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas and a co-principal investigator in the trial. "When we bring this together with standard of care chemotherapy, we get really substantially prolonged survival for these patients that are really unprecedented for this disease type." More than 141,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, making it the fourth most common cancer, according tothe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 52,900 people in the U.S. are expected to die from colorectal cancer this year, according tothe American Cancer Society. Laurie Ritchie, 61, of St. Louis, got the combination treatment in October 2023. Her results weren't included in the clinical trial analysis. Ritchie had been diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer with the BRAF mutation — a diagnosis she describes as "a huge shock." Previous colonoscopies hadn't detected cancer; by the time she was diagnosed, the cancer had already reached Stage 4. It eventually spread to her lungs and ovaries. Since she got the combination treatment, she said her blood tests have consistently shown no trace of cancer. While she still worries about the cancer coming back, she says she's now focused on living fully — including going water skiing and downhill skiing. "I've kind of learned to think of it as something in the trunk, not in the front seat," she said. "It still feels a bit like a ticking time bomb inside me, but I think the work I've done on my mental health has really helped me live with it."

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Advanced colon cancer patients lived twice as long with a Pfizer combo therapy, trial finds

Advanced colon cancer patients lived twice as long with a Pfizer combo therapy, trial finds A combination drug treatment doubled survival ti...

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Ancient Mayan city unearthed, including pyramids and canals

Ancient Mayan city unearthed, including pyramids and canals

Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a Mayan city nearly 3,000 years old in northern Guatemala, with pyramids and monuments that point to its significance as an important ceremonial site, the Central American country's culture ministry said Thursday. The Mayan civilization arose around 2000 BC, reaching its height between 400 and 900 AD in what is present-day southern Mexico and Guatemala, as well as parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. The city named "Los Abuelos," Spanish for "The Grandparents," once stood some 13 miles from the important archaeological site of Uaxactun, in Guatemala's northern Peten department, theministry saidin a statement. It is dated to what is known as the "Middle Preclassic" period from about 800 to 500 BC, and is believed to have been "one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centers" of the Mayan civilization in the jungle area of Peten near the Mexican border, it added. "The site presents remarkable architectural planning," with pyramids and monuments "sculpted with unique iconography from the region," said the ministry. The city takes its name from two human-like sculptures of an "ancestral couple" found at the site. The figures, dated between 500 and 300 BC, "could be linked to ancient ritual practices of ancestor worship," said the ministry. "Unique canal system" The city, which covers an area of about six square miles, was discovered by Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists in previously little-explored areas of the Uaxactun park. Nearby, they also found a pyramid standing 108 feet high with murals from the Preclassic period and "a unique canal system," according to the statement. "The set of these three sites forms a previously unknown urban triangle... These findings allow us to rethink the understanding of the ceremonial and socio-political organization of pre-Hispanic Peten," said the ministry. Officialsreleased a videoshowing archaeologists digging at the site and recovering a variety of artifacts, as well as an animation of the complex. In April, scientistsdiscovered a 1,000-year-old altarfrom Mexico's ancient Teotihuacan culture at Tikal, elsewhere in the Peten department. That find was interpreted as proof of ties between the two pre-Hispanic cultures, which lived about 800 miles apart. Archaeologists also said that the altar was believed to have been used for sacrifices, "especially of children." Tikal, about 15 miles from Uaxcatun, is the main archaeological site in Guatemala and one of its biggest tourist attractions. Last October, an American doctoral studentdiscovereda sprawling Maya city within a dense jungle in Mexico. Scientists and archaeologists have discovered ancient Mayan ruinsby shooting lasersdown from a plane to penetrate the dense jungle. E.l.f. Beauty calls Hailey Bieber an industry disruptor amid Rhode sale These 3 record breakers have one thing in common Reporter's Notebook: John Dickerson reflects on his spelling woes

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Ancient Mayan city unearthed, including pyramids and canals

Ancient Mayan city unearthed, including pyramids and canals Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a Mayan city nearly 3,000 years old...

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Tropical Storm Alvin producing large swells in Pacific: See path, spaghetti models

Tropical Storm Alvin producing large swells in Pacific: See path, spaghetti models

Tropical Storm Alvinis producing large swells that will affect portions of the coasts of west-central and southwestern Mexico and the southern Baja California peninsula in the next couple of days, according to theNational Hurricane Center. These swells are "likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" and the hurricane center advises people to keep an eye on weather forecasts from their local weather office. TheNHC said Friday morningthe storm is located about 445 miles south-southeast of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula with maximum sustained winds of about 50 mph with higher gusts. Alvin is moving toward the north-northwest, however a turn toward the north is expected Friday. "Gradual weakening is forecast during the next couple of days, and Alvin is expected to degenerate to a remnant low on Saturday," according to the hurricane center. While the 2025 Pacific hurricane season began on May 15, the Atlantic season officially begins on June 1 and will last through the end of November. Active hurricane weather typically peaks between mid-August and mid-October. TheNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationreleased its prediction for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season on Thursday, May 22,predicting an above-average season, with 13 to 19 named storms and six to 10 hurricanes. The hurricane center is also keeping tabs on a disturbance just offshore of Central America and southern Mexico. The NHC said an area of low pressure could form by the middle part of next week and that environmental conditions appear "favorable for some development" while it moves generally westward to west-northwestward. The hurricane center gives the disturbance a 20% chance of formation through the next seven days. This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts. Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression. A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reaches 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane. Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends. Prepare now for hurricanes:Here's what you should do to stay safe before a storm arrives Develop an evacuation plan: If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need anevacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there. Assemble disaster supplies: Whether you're evacuating or sheltering-in-place, you're going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy aftermath,NOAA said. Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions: Contact your insurance company or agent now and ask for aninsurance check-upto make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and/or belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance doesn't cover flooding, so you'll need a separate policy for it. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or theNational Flood Insurance Program. Act now, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period. Create a family communication plan: NOAA said to take the time now to write down yourhurricane plan, and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places, and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation. Strengthen your home: Now is the time to improve your home's ability to withstand hurricane impacts. Trim trees; install storm shutters, accordion shutters, and/or impact glass; seal outside wall openings. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X@GabeHauarior email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Tropical Storm Alvin tracker: See projected path, spaghetti models

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Tropical Storm Alvin producing large swells in Pacific: See path, spaghetti models

Tropical Storm Alvin producing large swells in Pacific: See path, spaghetti models Tropical Storm Alvinis producing large swells that will a...

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Trump says China has 'totally violated' agreement with US on tariffs

Trump says China has 'totally violated' agreement with US on tariffs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said China had violated an agreement on tariffs with the United States. "China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. U.S. trade talks with China were "a bit stalled" and getting a deal over the finish line will likely need the direct involvement of President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Thursday. Two weeks after breakthrough negotiations that resulted in a temporary truce in the trade war between the world's two biggest economies, Bessent said progress since then has been slow, but said he expects more talks in the next few weeks. The U.S.-China agreement to dial back triple-digit tariffs for 90 days prompted a massive relief rally in global stocks. But it did nothing to address the underlying reasons for Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods, mainly longstanding U.S. complaints about China's state-dominated, export-driven economic model, leaving those issues for future talks. (Reporting by Susan Heavey, Katharine Jackson; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Trump says China has 'totally violated' agreement with US on tariffs

Trump says China has 'totally violated' agreement with US on tariffs WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday sai...

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Canada Wildfires To Create Unhealthy Air For Millions In Midwest

Canada Wildfires To Create Unhealthy Air For Millions In Midwest

Wildfire smoke is pouring into the Midwest from Canada as dozens of fires burn north of the border. Let's get you caught up on all the latest information: Since the upper Midwest is closest to the fires burning in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, upper-level winds are blowing the thick smoke southward. This has prompted air quality alerts for the entire state of Wisconsin on Friday, as well as parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern Minnesota. (MORE:Here's What Wildfire Smoke Does To Your Body) Chicago residents could also experience degraded air quality as the smoke pushes southward. From weather.com senior digital meteorologistChris Dolce: The image below shows near-surface smoke on Saturday afternoon – this is the kind of smoke that can be unhealthy to breathe since it's at the lower levels. As you can see, the greatest concentrations of that will be in the Midwest and Northern Plains today through this weekend. However, some of it is modeled in a less concentrated fashion into the South and East this weekend: This animation shows that a much larger area will see smoke aloft that is not necessarily an air quality concern, but will lead to hazy skies and orange/red sunrises and sunsets. That is spreading into the Midwest now and will head into the South and East this weekend. As you can see, this is amuchlarger area, but areas that overlap with near-surface smoke have the greatest air quality concerns in the Midwest and Northern Plains: - Make sure you have the latest version ofThe Weather Channel app– if you don't, head to your phone's app store and download/update it. - Locate the pill that displays lifestyle options like "Allergies," "Cold & Flu" and "Skin Health." Locate the button that says "Breathing" and tap on it to load our Breathing module. - Scroll down to "Today's Biggest Impacts" and the air quality index will load. You'll also find other important information in that module. Some 17,000 residents in Manitoba remain under evacuation orders as wildfires have spread in the province,and also into Saskatchewan, BBC.com reported. "The conditions that our northern residents, communities and wildland firefighters are facing today are as severe or quite likely unlike anything we have faced in quite some time, if not ever," Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan, told BBC.com. A state of emergency is in effect in Manitoba and more than 80 fires have been deemed "out of control" in Canada. The entire town of Flin Flon, Manitoba, was ordered to evacuate; about 5,000 people live in the city. As the fires grew, some residents in Saskatchewan have also been ordered to evacuate their homes. According to the Associated Press: "Canada's wildfire season runs May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months."

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Canada Wildfires To Create Unhealthy Air For Millions In Midwest

Canada Wildfires To Create Unhealthy Air For Millions In Midwest Wildfire smoke is pouring into the Midwest from Canada as dozens of fires b...

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Blue Origin launch: How to watch Jeff Bezos' company's next human spaceflight from Texas

Blue Origin launch: How to watch Jeff Bezos' company's next human spaceflight from Texas

Six more space touristsare preparing to join the growing ranks of civilianswho have flown on a Blue Origin rocket to the edge of space. The vehicle they'll ride to orbit, Blue Origin's New Shepard, is the same one that58 others have ridden to spaceon 11previous human spaceflightsfrom the company's west Texas facility. The New Shepard's maiden voyage in July 2021 with a creweven included billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who also owns the space technology company. New Shepard is composed of both a rocket and a crew capsule, which is outfitted with large windows for its passengers to glimpse spectacular views thatmost of us will never see. The rest of us will instead have to content ourselves with watching the mission on solid ground. Fortunately, Blue Origin will provide a livestream for the launch and spaceflight. Here'severything to know aboutBlue Origin's next human spaceflight and how to watch a livestream. When is the next Blue Origin launch?What to know about New Shepard liftoff, crew Billionaire Jeff Bezos, best known for founding Amazon, is the founder of the private space technology company Blue Origin. Bezos himself even boarded Blue Origin's New Shepardfor its maiden crewed voyage in July 2021, which came after the spacecraft flew on 15 flight tests beginning in 2012. For nearly four years since its first crewed mission, the New Shepard spacecraft has served as a powerful symbol of Blue Origin's commercial spaceflight ambitions amida growing space tourism industry. In addition to sending space tourists on brief joy rides to the edge of space, Blue Origin has also increasingly sought to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX. Blue Origin's massive New Glenn rocket, whichflew on its inaugural flight test in January, is also being developed for future spaceflights. At 320 feet tall, the spacecraft rivalsSpaceX's 400-foot Starshipin size. Blue Origin's next crewed launch, known as NS-32, could get off the ground as early as 9:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. CT) Saturday, May 31, the company announced announced Tuesday, May 27. Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launches take place from the company's private ranch facility known asLaunch Site One. The facility is located 30 miles north of the town of Van Horn in Culberson County – more than 140 miles east of El Paso near the U.S.-Mexico border. Blue Origin will provide a webcast of the launch beginning about 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled liftoff on itswebsite. When the New Shepard gets off the ground again, the six people selected to board it will join58 others who have flownon the spacecraft across 11 previous human spaceflights. Here's a look at the passengers: Aymette (Amy) Medina Jorge, a STEM teacher at Odyssey Academy in Galveston, Texas, who has led more than 60 zero-gravity space experiments. Gretchen Green, a radiologist specializing in women's imaging with more than 20 years of clinical experience. Jaime Alemán, a Panamanian attorney, businessman and former ambassador to the United States. Jesse Williams, a Canadian entrepreneur and adventurer who serves as CEO of Car History Group, which he founded in 2012. Mark Rocket, an entrepreneur from Christchurch, New Zealand, who is CEO of Kea Aerospace, which develops solar-powered UAVs for aerial imaging and monitoring, and president of Aerospace New Zealand. Paul Jeris, a real estate developer and entrepreneur Eachspaceflight on a New Shepard vehiclelasts about 11 minutes from liftoff to capsule touchdown. Named after astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space, the 60-foot-tall New Shepard rocket is topped withthe gum drop-shaped crew capsule. During its ascent, the spacecraft reaches supersonic speeds surpassing 2,000 mph before the rocket booster separates from the crew capsule. At that point, those aboard the capsule become weightless as the spacecraft continues toward its highest point on its brief voyage above the Kármán Line – the 62-mile-high internationally recognized boundary of space. While experiencing a few minutes of microgravity, passengers have the opportunity to unstrap themselves from their seats to gaze out thecapsule's large windowsand take in a stunning view of Earth. Meanwhile, the rocket booster heads back to the ground while firing its engines and using its fins to slow and control its descent to land vertical about two miles from the launchpad. The capsule itself eventually begins what Blue Origin refers to as a "stable freefall" – plummeting back to Earth as three massive parachutes deploy and the capsule makes a soft landing in the desert, sending up plumes of dust. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Blue Origin launch: Date, time, how to watch crewed mission live

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Blue Origin launch: How to watch Jeff Bezos' company's next human spaceflight from Texas

Blue Origin launch: How to watch Jeff Bezos' company's next human spaceflight from Texas Six more space touristsare preparing to joi...

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Live updates: Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill at least 14, medics say

Live updates: Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill at least 14, medics say

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 people in the Gaza Strip, hospital officials said Friday, while Hamas was reviewing a new Israeli-approved ceasefire proposal after giving it an initial cool response. President Donald Trump's Mideast envoy had expressed optimism this week aboutbrokering an agreementthat could halt the Israel-Hamas war, allow more aid into Gaza, and return more of the 58 hostages still held by Hamas, around a third of whom are alive. Experts say a nearly three-month Israeli blockade of Gaza —slightly eased in recent days— has pushed the population of roughly 2 million Palestiniansto the brink of famine. Israel's war in Gaza has killed around 54,000 Palestinians, mostlywomen and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. The war began with Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left around 1,200 dead. Here's the latest: At least 14 dead in Gaza strikes, medics say Hospital officials and paramedics say Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 14 people and wounded others. Officials at Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza said the bodies of 12 people, including three women, were brought Friday from the nearby Jabaliya refugee camp. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the bodies of two people as well as nine others who were wounded were taken to Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City. It said one of the wounded is a doctor who works at the same hospital. Hamas reviewing a new ceasefire proposal Hamas said Friday it was reviewing a new Israeli-approved ceasefire proposal. The White House said Thursday that Israel accepted a new U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Hamas. Hamas officials, however, gave the draft a cool response, saying that it seeks to perpetuate Israel's policies of killing and starving people in Gaza. Still, the group said it was going to thoroughly review it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to end the war until all the hostages are released and Hamas is either destroyed or disarmed and sent into exile. Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages for a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu undergoes a routine colonoscopy Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent a routine colonoscopy on Friday morning in Jerusalem, his office said. The office did not provide further information about whether Netanyahu was moderately sedated or under general anesthesia for the procedure. Netanyahu, 75, underwentsuccessful surgery in Decemberto have his prostate removed. Netanyahu has gone to great lengths to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy, energetic leader, as he manages multiple crises including thewar in Gazaand histrial for alleged corruption, despite a series of recent health setbacks.

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Live updates: Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill at least 14, medics say

Live updates: Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill at least 14, medics say Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 people in the Gaza Strip, hospit...

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Gilead commits to HIV prevention rollout for low-income countries despite funding uncertainty

Gilead commits to HIV prevention rollout for low-income countries despite funding uncertainty

By Julie Steenhuysen and Deena Beasley (Reuters) -Gilead Sciences says it still plans to supply its twice-yearly injection for preventing HIV infection in low-income countries if it wins U.S. approval despite funding uncertainty over the Trump Administration's pullback in aid spending. Some AIDS experts, including activists and doctors, say the Gilead drug, lenacapavir, could help end the 44-year-old epidemic that infects 1.3 million people a year and is estimated by the World Health Organization to have killed more than 42 million. An FDA approval decision is expected by June 19 for lenacapavir, which proved to be nearly 100% effective at preventing HIV in large trials. If the Food and Drug Administration green lights the drug, and its view is seconded by the WHO, the shots could start to roll out early in 2026 to at least 2 million people in 18 low-income countries based on Gilead's agreement with the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, a worldwide partnership targeting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. Gilead agreed to provide lenacapavir at cost for two-to-three years while six generic drugmakers, which were granted licenses to make the medicine for low-income countries, ramp up production. Experts said a successful launch of a long-acting HIV prevention drug could help stall the epidemic. Until recently, the only pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options for people at high risk of infection were daily pills, requiring careful adherence to be effective. "You can foresee a day where there are no new HIV diagnoses. It doesn't happen if we only do this in the U.S.," Gilead Chief Commercial Officer Johanna Mercier said. "We need to make sure we have a global approach to this launch." PEPFAR being part of the effort is Gilead's intent and goal, Mercier said. "Unfortunately, if they're not part of that mix, our goal is still to meet that objective of 2 million people getting access." Wall Street has a close eye on lenacapavir, one of the highest-profile drugs to undergo FDA review since President Donald Trump named Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary and promised to upend the status quo. Most of the drug's profits are expected in the U.S., with annual sales reaching $1 billion by next year, according to analysts' estimates compiled by LSEG. 'INCREDIBLE DISMAY' Whether all of the agreed funding for low-income countries - most of which are in Africa - will come through is unclear. Countries that rely on aid are already reeling from funding cuts by the Trump Administration, including to PEPFAR, and AIDS researchers are bracing for the worst. The United Nations program on HIV/AIDS earlier this month said many HIV prevention programs supported by PEPFAR were stalled, although services for pregnant and breastfeeding women were technically exempt from the cuts. Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund, told Reuters the group intends to fund as much of the lenacapavir rollout as possible, but it will need to start slowly. "It's not just the uncertainty over PEPFAR's funding that's an issue, but the uncertainty over our funding," Sands said, adding that the group's first priority is treating people already infected with the deadly virus. Much will depend on the success of the Global Fund's effort to raise $18 billion to fund its work from 2027-2029. The U.S. is its largest donor, committing $6 billion in the previous funding round. It is unclear what the U.S. may provide this round, or whether other big governments will step up. UNAIDS estimates that the permanent discontinuation of HIV prevention and treatment programs supported by PEPFAR would lead to an additional 6.6 million new HIV infections between 2025 and 2029. The U.S. State Department, which oversees PEPFAR, did not respond to a request for comment. Gilead declined to comment on its manufacturing cost for lenacapavir, whose U.S. price is likely to be on par with current preventive medications at around $25,000 per year. ViiV Healthcare's Apretude, an injection given every two months, costs about 124.20 pounds ($168) in low- and middle-income countries. Mitchell Warren, executive director of the AIDS nonprofit AVAC, estimates the eventual annual cost at $100-$120. The lower the price, the more people who could receive it, he said. Warren said PEPFAR could still participate, and others may come forward. The Gates Foundation and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation are "actively involved in all of these conversations," he said, as is the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Linda-Gail Bekker of the University of Cape Town, who led lenacapavir clinical trials in South Africa and Uganda, said she was elated when she first saw the findings. "The huge feeling I have now is one of incredible dismay," said Bekker of uncertainty over the Trump administration's commitment to PEPFAR and HIV prevention in poor nations. "It felt like the stars were aligning, and one of the stars has fallen out of the sky." (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago and Deena Beasley in Los Angeles; additional reporting by Jennifer Rigby in London; editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot)

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Gilead commits to HIV prevention rollout for low-income countries despite funding uncertainty

Gilead commits to HIV prevention rollout for low-income countries despite funding uncertainty By Julie Steenhuysen and Deena Beasley (Reuter...

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Google and DOJ to make final push in US search antitrust case

Google and DOJ to make final push in US search antitrust case

By Jody Godoy WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Alphabet's Google and U.S. antitrust enforcers will make their final arguments on whether the tech giant should be forced to sell its Chrome browser or adopt other measures to restore competition in online search, as the blockbuster antitrust trial concludes on Friday. The U.S. Department of Justice and a coalition of states are pressing to make Google not only sell Chrome, but also share search data and cease multibillion-dollar payments to Apple and other smartphone makers and wireless carriers that set Google as the default search engine on new devices. The proposals aim to restore competition after a judge found last year that Google illegally dominates the online search and related advertising markets. Artificial intelligence companies could get a boost after already rattling Google's status as the go-to tool to find information online. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is overseeing the trial, which began in April. He has said he aims to rule on the proposals by August. If the judge does require Google to sell off Chrome, OpenAI would be interested in buying it, Nick Turley, OpenAI's product head for ChatGPT, said at the trial. OpenAI would also benefit from access to Google's search data, which would help it make responses to user inquiries more accurate and up to date, Turley said. Google says the proposals go far beyond what is legally justified by the court's ruling, and would give away its technology to competitors. The company has already begun loosening agreements with smartphone makers including Samsung Electronics to allow them to load rival search and AI products. The DOJ wants the judge to go farther, banning Google from making lucrative payments in exchange for installation of its search app. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang)

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Google and DOJ to make final push in US search antitrust case

Google and DOJ to make final push in US search antitrust case By Jody Godoy WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Alphabet's Google and U.S. antitrust ...

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Foreign-branded mobile phone sales in China edge up in April

Foreign-branded mobile phone sales in China edge up in April

BEIJING (Reuters) -Sales of foreign-branded mobile phones in China, including Apple Inc's iPhones, edged up in April, according to data released by a government-affiliated research company on Friday. Calculations based on the data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) showed that April shipments of foreign-branded phones in China rose to 3.52 million units from 3.50 million a year earlier. As the largest foreign mobile phone maker in China's smartphone-dominated market, Apple's performance plays a significant role in the overall data on foreign-branded phone sales in the country. The uptick in April comes after a sluggish first quarter in which Apple's phone sales in China dropped 9%. Apple has faced increased competition from domestic rivals and has resorted to price cuts to stay competitive. Chinese e-commerce platforms are offering discounts of up to 2,530 yuan ($351) on Apple's latest iPhone 16 models earlier this month. (Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Foreign-branded mobile phone sales in China edge up in April

Foreign-branded mobile phone sales in China edge up in April BEIJING (Reuters) -Sales of foreign-branded mobile phones in China, including A...

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South Carolina tourists find remains that may be linked to 'forgotten' burial site

South Carolina tourists find remains that may be linked to 'forgotten' burial site

Tourists exploring an island off the South Carolina coast accidentally uncovered human skeletal remains that authorities believe may be linked to a forgotten, centuries-old burial site. The tourists were in Jeremy Cay — a private, beachfront community located on Edisto Island about 45 miles southwest of Charleston — on May 23 when they discovered what they initially believed to be fossils, according to theColleton County Sheriff's Office. But after realizing the remains appeared to be human, the tourists immediately contacted the sheriff's office and the Edisto Beach Police Department, the sheriff's office said. Authorities then responded to the scene and secured the area. The Colleton County Coroner's Office also assisted in the investigation and recovery of the remains, which were later transported to the Medical University of South Carolina for forensic analysis and identification, according to the sheriff's office. "The location of the discovery is historically significant, once home to the 19th-century settlement known as Edingsville Beach," the sheriff's office said in anews release. "Early indications suggest the remains may originate from a long forgotten burial site." The sheriff's office noted that the identity of the remains and the circumstances surrounding their death are currently unknown. The investigation remains ongoing, and the sheriff's office said it's working with the county coroner's office and other partner agencies to learn more about the remains and their origin. Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey toldNewsweekon May 25 that the remains consisted of a skull and separated bones. Harvey noted that the discovery was "rare" and that the remains could be from the Revolutionary War or Civil War, according to Newsweek. A family went missing in Alaska in 2024.A boat and human remains were just found. The Jeremy Cay community is near the site of Edingsville Beach, a former vacation destination that was popular among wealthy Southern families in the early 19th century, according to an article on the town ofEdisto Island's website. "It was initially established for wealthy Charleston families as a seasonal refuge to escape the humidity and heat in the Lowcountry," the article states. "For a few decades, Edingsville Beach was the place for the elite to be seen." In 1825, the community was made up of 60 tabby and brick houses with verandas facing the ocean, according to the article. Edingsville Beach also had several churches, service buildings, boathouses, fishing shacks, a billiard saloon, and a schoolhouse. The settlement began to disappear over the decades due to coastal erosion and the effects of the Civil War, the article adds. "Visitors started to notice the shifting sands and ever-lapping tides took a toll on the beach," according to the article. "In addition, the Atlantic surf had managed to scoop up about 20 of the homes before the Civil War began." Patricia Wu-Murad case:A Connecticut woman went missing 2 years ago on hike in Japan. Her remains have been found The community was uninhabited during the Civil War and mostly abandoned after the war ended in 1865, the article states. Edisto Island was hit by a hurricane in 1885, which leveled most of the remaining structures in the settlement. By 1893, another hurricane destroyed the last of the structures in Edingsville Beach, according to the article. Now, only a narrow strip of beach serves as a reminder of the historic community. Bones and remains have previously been found on the island, the article states. In 2015, a tourist from Pennsylvania visiting the north end of Edisto Island found several bones. Shortly after, a former Edisto Beach State Park ranger discovered a skull with some teeth attached. Paleontologists later determined that both sets of remains dated back to 1865 and 1870, according to the article. One of the sets was identified as a cow skeleton. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:South Carolina tourists find remains linked to centuries-old site

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

South Carolina tourists find remains that may be linked to 'forgotten' burial site

South Carolina tourists find remains that may be linked to 'forgotten' burial site Tourists exploring an island off the South Caroli...

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How Northern Arkansas’ terrain may help an escaped convict evade capture

How Northern Arkansas' terrain may help an escaped convict evade capture

As the search forescaped prisoner Grant Hardinenters a fifth day, authorities pursuing the convicted murderer and rapist in northern Arkansas face various challenges from the landscape that could give Hardin an advantage in evading capture. Wearing "a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement," Hardin broke out of the North Central Unit prison in Calico Rock around 2:55 p.m. Sunday, a news release from the state's Department of Corrections said. Hundreds of law enforcement officials from federal, state and local agencies are working on finding Hardin, Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections said Wednesday, but bad weather gave the fugitive a head start and rocky terrain, caves and old outbuildings give him ample places to hide. "There's caves, there's barns, there's abandoned cars, there's abandoned sheds, there's residences … It's not a flat, open area," Champion said. Authorities believe Hardin is still in the general area near the prison, according to Champion. "He's not necessarily from this area, but he did grow up in Northwest Arkansas, which has some terrain similar to this … understanding that he may have that sort of familiarity provides a challenge," said Champion. The area where police are searching is one of the most cave-dense in the state, according to a geology professor at the University of Arkansas. "The most comprehensive database has about 1500 caves in northern Arkansas," Matt Covington, an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences told CNN. "There are also certainly many caves that have not yet been reported or even discovered." In and around Calico Rock, where the prison is located, Covington said there are around 300 to 400 reported caves that could make ideal hiding places, if only temporarily. "Most of the caves are small, 100 feet or less. However, there are some caves in the area that are more than a mile long," Covington said. "I can imagine that the entrance area of a cave could be a useful place to hide," he added. "There is often water present. There are boulders to hide under or small crawlways and side passages." But it's not perfect according to Covington. The caves are cool – around 58 degrees Fahrenheit – and many of them are wet, Covington said. "Hypothermia can quickly become a problem. You also need light, and most lights will only last a day or so before you need to recharge or replace batteries. You also will have to come out for food." Plus most of the caves only have one entrance, he said, limiting one's ability to flee. "So, the entrance of a cave might make a good temporary hideout or shelter from rain," Covington said. "However, you would probably basically be cornered. If tracking dogs figured out you were in there, you would be trapped." In fact, the rain actually bought Hardin some time after his escape, according to Champion. "With our track dogs, the rain can affect them being able to pick up that track. With the low clouds, it's hard to get the drones up as high as we need to. Helicopters are grounded with all that," Champion said. "We're hoping that the weather kind of turns a little bit and we can utilize more of those" assets. Nearly three inches of rain fell in Calico Rock from Saturday through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The rain tapered off Tuesday but as the week wore on, the region has been cool and overcast with some low clouds and foggy mist. It's not just the weather and the terrain that have been on Hardin's side dodging authorities. Hardin waspreviously the police chief for the small town of Gateway, Arkansas, near the Missouri border, and has worked various other law enforcement jobs throughout his career. Hardin was previously featured on the Investigation Discovery documentary, 'Devil in the Ozarks.' (Investigation Discovery, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.) "Obviously, if you have a law enforcement background you've had specialized training, you've had a familiarity of the tactics that are going to be used," Champion said. As of Thursday afternoon, Hardin remained on the loose, and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies continued to search for him. Areward of up to $10,000for information leading to his arrest was announced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "What we would ask – in this area, especially – please be cognizant. Please be aware. Be alert of your surroundings," Champion said. "If something seems out of place, if something seems a little off, please let us know." For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

How Northern Arkansas’ terrain may help an escaped convict evade capture

How Northern Arkansas' terrain may help an escaped convict evade capture As the search forescaped prisoner Grant Hardinenters a fifth da...

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Who Is Leonard Leo and Why Did Trump Call Him a ‘Sleazebag’?

Who Is Leonard Leo and Why Did Trump Call Him a 'Sleazebag'?

Leonard Leo, co-chariman of the Federalist Society board of directors, speaks at the University of Cambridge in England on March 11, 2025.
Credit - Nordin Catic/Getty Images for The Cambridge Union "A real 'sleazebag'" and "bad person." Someone who "probably hates America." The latest target of Donald Trump's insults, however, is the very same whom he once credited with what he would later call "one of the greatest achievements" of his presidency. "We're going to have great judges, conservative, all picked by the Federalist Society," Trump promised during his first campaign in 2016. It was the result of a meeting in March 2016 with Leonard Leo, then the executive vice president of the Federalist Society, a conservative organization that advocates for legaloriginalism. True to his promise, Trump would go on to consult Leo for judicial nominations, including his three Supreme Court picks. Read More:Inside Trump's Plan to Dramatically Reshape U.S. Courts[From 2018] "What we're doing with the courts, I think, is going to go down as one of the greatest achievements," Trump said during his first term. But on Thursday, Trump had changed his tune. "I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges," hepostedon his social media platform Truth Social. "I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real 'sleazebag' named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions. He openly brags how he controls Judges, and even Justices of the United States Supreme Court—I hope that is not so, and don't believe it is! In any event, Leo left The Federalist Society to do his own 'thing.' I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations. This is something that cannot be forgotten! With all of that being said, I am very proud of many of our picks, but very disappointed in others." Trump's rant came after a federal three-judge panelruledthat he didn't have the authority to impose most of the tariffs he'd announced so far in his second term, a key part of his economic agenda and promise to bringmanufacturing jobsback to America. Leo, in response, offered a less combative response. "I'm very grateful for President Trump transforming the Federal Courts, and it was a privilege being involved," he said ina statement. "There's more work to be done, for sure, but the Federal Judiciary is better than it's ever been in modern history, and that will be President Trump's most important legacy." Here's what to know about Leo and the Federalist Society—and their falling out with Trump. Founded in 1982by a group of law school studentsas a pro-originalism organization for law students, the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies has been describedas"the single most influential advocacy organization in Washington." The organization—which counts over 90,000 lawyers, law students, scholars, and others among its members—describes itselfas "a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order." But that puts it mildly: the organization, especially under Leo's leadership, has been credited with creating a "pipeline," utilizing its vast network, for conservative law students to make their way into positions of influence—ideally, all the way up to the Supreme Court. A2023 studyshowed that, in the current confirmation process, a judicial nominee's affiliation with the Federalist Society increased the probability of a successful Senate confirmation by around 20%. In 2021, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D, R.I.)flaggedthat 86% of Trump's Supreme Court or appellate court nominees were or are members of the group. Six of the nine sitting Supreme Court justices—Chief Justice John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—are linked to the Federalist Society, particularly through Leo. ProPublicadescribed the Federalist Society as part of "a machine that remade the American legal system." It described Leo as the man who "built" that machine. The conservative legal activist joined the Federalist Society in 1989, when he started a student chapter of the organization while studying law in Cornell. For many years, he served as executive vice president of the organization until he stepped back in 2020, though he remains co-chair of its board of directors. Leo's most significant and long-lasting impact is probably his work related to the makeup of the Supreme Court. In 1990, before he even began officially working for the Federalist Society, as a 25-year-old clerk for a U.S. Court of Appeals judge in Washington, he met then-appellate judge Thomas, whom he befriended and helped through his Supreme Court confirmation in 1991. During the George W. Bush Administration, Leo organized efforts to lobby for the nominations of Roberts and Alito. And during Trump's first term, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Coney Barrett were all selected from a list reportedly "personally curated" by Leo. But the Federalist Society isn't the only powerful organization Leo has championed. "The network of increasingly influential conservative groups that Leonard A. Leo has helped to create and shape is not easily defined or quantified," theNew York Timesreportedin 2022. Many of those groups have funding sources that have been difficult to trace and have funnelled billions of dollars to conservative causes,including groupsthat had been preparing for Trump's second term. Politicoreported that the relationship between Leo and Trump became strained when the three conservative justices Trump appointed to the Supreme Court on Leo's advice "did not intervene to keep Trump in office after he lost the 2020 presidential election." Leo, however, has generally refrained from publicly criticizing Trump—and the Federalist Society has reportedly appeared "ambivalent" about Trump's second-term Administration so far, compared to itsenthusiasmduring his first—though Trump's tariffs appear to be a major breaking point. In April, the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a group affiliated with Leo,mounteda legal challenge against levies imposed on Chinese imports,arguingthat the President misapplied the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) cited to order the tariffs. While that case remains ongoing, the U.S. Court of International Trade found that Trump misused the same presidential authority in aruling this weekon separate tariff cases. Trump'ssocial-media outburstagainst the judges on that court and against Leo and the Federalist Society came as his Administration has increasingly challenged the authority of the judicial branch torein in his powers. Still, the President may be relying on Leo's greatest accomplishment to ultimately push his agenda through. "Hopefully," Trump added in his social media post, "the Supreme Court will reverse this horrible, Country threatening decision, QUICKLY and DECISIVELY." Contact usatletters@time.com.

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Who Is Leonard Leo and Why Did Trump Call Him a ‘Sleazebag’?

Who Is Leonard Leo and Why Did Trump Call Him a 'Sleazebag'? Leonard Leo, co-chariman of the Federalist Society board of directors, ...

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Detective assigned to NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ security detail allegedly dropped off victim in crypto kidnapping case, sources say

Detective assigned to NYC Mayor Eric Adams' security detail allegedly dropped off victim in crypto kidnapping case, sources say

A New York City Police detective assigned to Mayor Eric Adams' security detail will be questioned in relation toa bizarre crypto currency kidnapping and torture plotafter he allegedly delivered the victim to his tormentors, according to multiple law enforcement officials briefed on the case. It is not clear if the detective had any knowledge or any role in the multiple assaults, officials said, adding that is a key question that investigators are trying to answer. The investigation comes after two people, John Woeltz and William Duplessie, were charged in the case. Prosecutors said they were involved in holding a 28-year-old wealthy Italian cryptocurrency trader hostage for several weeks as part of a violent scheme to obtain his Bitcoin password, the Manhattan District Attorney said. The victim, who has not been named by investigators, was ultimately able to escape. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Duplessie's attorney declined to comment on the case. CNN has reached out to Woeltz's attorney for comment. Investigators learned that the detective, who picked up the victim on May 6 from John F. Kennedy International Airport, was working "off-duty employment" providing security for Woeltz, a Crypto entrepreneur, sources said. The detective was contacted by NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau and has been placed on "modified assignment," meaning his badge and guns have been taken and he is assigned to administrative duties as the investigation into the plot continues. A second detective, assigned to the Narcotics Division, was also placed on modified assignment as part of the same investigation, according to the officials. Investigators also do not know whether that detective had any awareness of the plot or involvement in it. The union representing the detectives declined to comment. Two members of the NYPD were placed on modified duty Wednesday, an NYPD spokesperson told CNN. One of the detectives is in the security detail for the mayor, but Adams has no knowledge of what the officer does in his personal time, Adams' office said. "Every city employee is expected to follow the law, including our officers, both on and off duty. We are disturbed by these allegations, and as soon as it came to our attention, the officers were placed on modified duty," Adams' Press Secretary Kayla Mamelak Altus said in a statement. Prosecutors say the victim in the kidnapping plot was tortured for days, threatened to be killed and at one point dangled over a railing if he did not give up his Bitcoin password. When the victim refused, he was subjected to beatings that included but were "not limited to" using electric wires to shock him, pointing a firearm at his head and using that firearm to strike him in the head, they said. The two men also bound the victim's wrists and said they would have his family killed, according to the district attorney. Both detectives being questioned in relation to the case were apparently hired through a private security and investigation company run by a retired NYPD sergeant, sources told CNN. The NYPD had no record of either detective applying for, or being approved for, off-duty employment, the process by which an NYPD employee can pick up work outside the department, law enforcement sources told CNN. Officials briefed on the investigation are considering several questions, including if the detectives have any knowledge or any role in the multiple assaults. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Detective assigned to NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ security detail allegedly dropped off victim in crypto kidnapping case, sources say

Detective assigned to NYC Mayor Eric Adams' security detail allegedly dropped off victim in crypto kidnapping case, sources say A New Yo...

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Exclusive-Work on $1 billion Trump Tower in Vietnam could start next year, source says

Exclusive-Work on $1 billion Trump Tower in Vietnam could start next year, source says

By Francesco Guarascio HANOI (Reuters) -Investment in a planned Trump Tower in Vietnam is estimated at around $1 billion and construction of the at least 60-storey skyscraper could start next year, a person familiar with the discussions told Reuters. The building, for which plans are still preliminary, would be the second major project the Trump Organization, U.S. President Donald Trump's family business, is reviewing in Vietnam. The Southeast Asian country is currently in trade talks with Washington to avoid crippling 46% tariffs. Eric Trump, senior vice president of the Trump Organization, visited Vietnam last week to survey the site for the tower in the country's southern business hub of Ho Chi Minh City and to attend the groundbreaking for a golf resort in northern Vietnam. The approval for the golf club, according to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, had been expedited by the authorities. The Trump Organization would operate the golf club, while its Vietnamese partner, real estate firm Kinhbac City, would focus on developing it with an estimated investment of $1.5 billion, the source said. The division of work had not been previously reported. A similar arrangement is likely to be agreed for the Trump Tower, with the investment expected to come mostly from local partners, the source said, declining to be named because the information is not public. The Trump Organization did not reply to a request for comment. Kinhbac City, a leading industrial real estate developer in Vietnam, did not respond to a request for comment. When it announced its collaboration with the Trump Organization in October, the company said the venture "will focus on developing 5-star hotels, championship-style golf courses, and luxurious residential estates and unparalleled amenities in Vietnam." During his visit last week, Eric Trump toured the site where the skyscraper would be built and met local officials, the source said. That was in line with the schedule of his engagements with the city's authorities, according to a Vietnamese document seen by Reuters. The tower would be built in Thu Thiem, an area under development in central Ho Chi Minh City where a new financial centre is planned to be built, the document from the city's authorities showed. 'ENVY OF ALL OF ASIA' At the groundbreaking for the golf resort, Eric Trump said the projects to be developed in Vietnam would be "the envy of all of Asia and of the entire world", adding he would visit the country frequently to further the company's plans. Approvals for the tower project are still being sought and no final decision had been made about when construction will start, the source said, adding that the aim was to have the groundbreaking next year. The investment could be larger than $1 billion if permits are obtained for a building with more than 60 floors, the person said. The Trump Organization operates several towers in the United States and across the world, but does not own all of them. The flagship Trump Tower in the Manhattan neighbourhood of New York City was built in the 1980s. Others have since been built in Chicago, Florida and abroad, including in Turkey and the Philippines. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Kate Mayberry)

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Exclusive-Work on $1 billion Trump Tower in Vietnam could start next year, source says

Exclusive-Work on $1 billion Trump Tower in Vietnam could start next year, source says By Francesco Guarascio HANOI (Reuters) -Investment i...

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Exclusive-Synopsys halts China sales due to US export restrictions, internal memo shows

Exclusive-Synopsys halts China sales due to US export restrictions, internal memo shows

By Liam Mo and Brenda Goh BEIJING (Reuters) -Semiconductor design software firm Synopsys has told staff in China to halt services and sales in the country and stop taking new orders to comply with new U.S. export restrictions, according to an internal letter reviewed by Reuters. The U.S. has ordered a broad swathe of companies to stop shipping goods to China without a license and revoked licenses already granted to certain suppliers, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Products affected include design software and chemicals for semiconductors, they said. Synopsys on Thursday suspended its annual and quarterly forecasts after it received a letter from the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce, informing it of new export restrictions related to China. The internal letter sent to staff in China on Friday said "based on our initial interpretation, these new restrictions broadly prohibit the sales of our products and services in China and are effective as of May 29, 2025." To ensure compliance, Synopsys said it was blocking sales and fulfillment in China and halting new orders until it receives further clarification. The measures affect all customers in China, including employees of global customers working at sites in China and Chinese military users wherever they are located, the letter added. The steps Synopsys is taking in light of the new restrictions have not been previously reported. Synopsys declined to comment. Alongside Cadence and Siemens EDA, Synopsys is among the top three companies that dominate electronic design automation (EDA) software that chipmakers can use to design semiconductors used in everything from smartphones to computers and cars. Restricting Chinese firms' access to EDA tools would be a big blow to the industry as Chinese chip design customers heavily rely on top-of-the-line U.S. software. Synopsys, Cadence and Siemens's Mentor Graphics control more than 70% of China's EDA market, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported in April. Chinese companies that have said they use Synopsys and Cadence software include design firm Brite Semiconductor, Zhuhai Jieli and semiconductor IP portfolio provider VeriSilicon. The letter sent to staff in China on Friday also said that Chinese customers' access to its customer support portal SolvNetPlus had been disabled. (Reporting by Liam Mo and Brenda Goh; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Lincoln Feast.)

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Exclusive-Synopsys halts China sales due to US export restrictions, internal memo shows

Exclusive-Synopsys halts China sales due to US export restrictions, internal memo shows By Liam Mo and Brenda Goh BEIJING (Reuters) -Semico...

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In Ukraine's Kharkiv, ballet offers 'rebirth' after bombs and bullets

In Ukraine's Kharkiv, ballet offers 'rebirth' after bombs and bullets

By Marko Djurica KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -In the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, it's hard to escape the war with Russia. On some days, when the wind blows in the right direction, residents of the historic city can hear the boom of artillery fire from the front line, some 30 km (20 miles) away. Most nights, Russian kamikaze drones packed with explosives buzz over apartment buildings as parents put their children to bed. Frequently - but unpredictably - a Russian ballistic missile will slam into the city. Three years on from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, for many people in Kharkiv, the war with its unrelenting, inescapable proximity, takes a mental toll. But there is a space in the city where – for a few fleeting hours – the war stops existing. In the dark, brick-walled basement of the Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, a dance company has created a space protected from drones and bombs where audiences can lose themselves in performances of classic ballets. In April, the space was host to performances of "Chopiniana", an early 20th-century ballet with music by Frederic Chopin. Despite the makeshift setting, the ballet was performed with full classical pomp, complete with corps de ballet and orchestra. That marked a milestone for Kharkiv's cultural life because it was the first full performance of a classical ballet in the city since February 2022, when Russian troops invaded Ukraine. "In spite of everything - the fact that bombs are flying, drones, and everything else - we can give a gift of something wonderful to people," said Antonina Radiievska, artistic director of Opera East, the ballet company which staged the performance. "They can come and, even if it's just for an hour or two, completely immerse themselves in a different world." Despite Ukraine's history of excellence in classical ballet, the art form seems far removed from the everyday lives of Ukrainians in wartime. Daily routines are given over to checking apps for drone attack warnings, sleeping on the metro station floor to escape an air raid or seeking news of relatives on the front line. Pirouettes, pas-de-deux and chiffon tutus feel a world away. NEW NORMAL Nevertheless, the journey of Kharkiv's ballet through the war mirrors the ways Ukrainian society has adapted and evolved. On February 23, 2022, the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre put on a performance of the ballet "Giselle". The following day, Russia launched its full-scale invasion. As Moscow's troops reached the outskirts of Kharkiv and threatened to capture the city, the theatre closed its doors and many of the ballet troupe moved away. Some of them reassembled in Slovakia and Lithuania, and began touring ballet productions outside Ukraine with help from European sponsors. By 2023, the war was grinding on, but the situation in Kharkiv, in Ukraine's northeast, had stabilised after Russian ground forces pulled back. The realisation dawned on the city that this was a long game, a new, wartime reality. Local people started referring to the city - and themselves - using the Ukrainian word "nezlamniy", meaning invincible. It was that year that work began on converting the theatre basement into a performance space. In October 2023, it began to be used as a rehearsal space. In spring the following year, the theatre was granted permission to bring in an audience, and it held small-scale ballet performances such as children's concerts. The revival of "Chopiniana" represents the next milestone in Kharkiv's wartime cultural journey. Staging a classical opera again sends a message that Ukraine is still standing, according to Igor Tuluzov, Director-General of Opera East, the company staging the production. "We are demonstrating to the world that we really are a self-sufficient state, independent, in all its aspects, including cultural independence," he said. The auditorium seats 400 people on stackable chairs, compared to 1,750 in the main theatre upstairs, where the plush mustard seats lie empty. The stage downstairs is one quarter the size of the main stage. The aesthetic is grey-painted brick, concrete floors, pipes and electricity ducting running along the walls - a contrast to the varnished hardwood and marble of the space upstairs. The acoustic qualities of the basement, say the performers, don't match the lofty expanses of the main theatre. What matters to artistic director Radiievska, though, is that after a long hiatus, she and her troupe can once again perform at their best, in front of an audience. "It means, you know, life," she said. "An artist cannot exist without the stage, without creativity, without dance or song. It's like a rebirth." (Writing by Christian Lowe;Editing by Ros Russell)

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

In Ukraine's Kharkiv, ballet offers 'rebirth' after bombs and bullets

In Ukraine's Kharkiv, ballet offers 'rebirth' after bombs and bullets By Marko Djurica KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -In the Ukrain...

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Trump envoy says Russian concern over NATO enlargement is fair

Trump envoy says Russian concern over NATO enlargement is fair

MOSCOW (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said Russia's concern over the eastward enlargement of NATO was fair and the United States did not want to see Ukraine in the U.S.-led military alliance. Asked by U.S. network ABC News about a Reuters report that Russia wanted a written pledge over NATO not enlarging eastwards to include Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, Kellogg said: "It's a fair concern." "We've said that to us, Ukraine coming into NATO is not on the table, and we're not the only country that says that - you know I could probably give you four other countries in NATO and it takes 32 of the 32 to allow you to come in to NATO," he told ABC late on Thursday. "That's one of the issues that Russia will bring up." "They're not just talking Ukraine, they're talking the country of Georgia, they're talking Moldova," Kellogg said, adding that a decision on U.S. views of NATO enlargement was for Trump to make. Kellogg said the sequencing of the peace talks would include an attempt to merge the two memorandums drafted by Ukraine and Russia into one single document with talks in Turkey on Monday. "When we get into Istanbul next week we'll sit down and talk," Kellogg said, adding that the national security advisers from Germany, France and Britain would join discussions on the memorandum with the United States. Kellogg said Trump was "frustrated" with Russia because he had seen "a level of unreasonableness" from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He scolded Russia for striking Ukrainian cities and said he had told Ukraine to turn up to talks. A conservative estimate of dead and injured in the Ukraine war - from both sides combined - totals 1.2 million, Kellogg said. "That is a stunning number - this is war on an industrial scale," Kellogg told ABC. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Trump envoy says Russian concern over NATO enlargement is fair

Trump envoy says Russian concern over NATO enlargement is fair MOSCOW (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy to Ukraine, Keith K...

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Universities seek to lure US-bound students amid Trump crackdown

Universities seek to lure US-bound students amid Trump crackdown

By Laurie Chen, Larissa Liao, Sam Tabahriti and John Geddie TOKYO/BEIJING/LONDON (Reuters) -Universities around the world are seeking to offer refuge for students impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on academic institutions, targeting top talent and a slice of the billions of dollars in academic revenue in the United States. Osaka University, one of the top ranked in Japan, is offering tuition fee waivers, research grants and help with travel arrangements for students and researchers at U.S. institutions that want to transfer. Japan's Kyoto University and Tokyo University are also considering similar schemes, while Hong Kong has instructed its universities to attract top talent from the United States. China's Xi'an Jiaotong University has appealed for students at Harvard, singled out in Trump's crackdown, promising "streamlined" admissions and "comprehensive" support. Trump's administration has enacted massive funding cuts for academic research, curbed visas for foreign students - especially those from China - and plans to hike taxes on elite schools. Trump alleges top U.S. universities are cradles of anti-American movements. In a dramatic escalation, his administration last week revoked Harvard's ability to enrol foreign students, a move later blocked by a federal judge. Masaru Ishii, dean of the graduate school of medicine at Osaka University, described the impact on U.S. universities as "a loss for all of humanity". Japan aims to ramp up its number of foreign students to 400,000 over the next decade, from around 337,000 currently. Jessica Turner, CEO of Quacquarelli Symonds, a London-based analytics firm that ranks universities globally, said other leading universities around the world were trying to attract students unsure of going to the United States. Germany, France and Ireland are emerging as particularly attractive alternatives in Europe, she said, while in the Asia-Pacific, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and mainland China are rising in profile. SWITCHING SCHOOLS Chinese students have been particularly targeted in Trump's crackdown, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday pledging to "aggressively" crack down on their visas. More than 275,000 Chinese students are enrolled in hundreds of U.S. colleges, providing a major source of revenue for the schools and a crucial pipeline of talent for U.S. technology companies. International students - 54% of them from India and China - contributed more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Trump's crackdown comes at a critical period in the international student application process, as many young people prepare to travel to the U.S. in August to find accommodation and settle in before term starts. Dai, 24, a Chinese student based in Chengdu, had planned to head to the U.S. to complete her masters but is now seriously considering taking up an offer in Britain instead. "The various policies (by the U.S. government) were a slap in my face," she said, requesting to be identified only by her surname for privacy reasons. "I'm thinking about my mental health and it's possible that I indeed change schools." Students from Britain and the European Union are also now more hesitant to apply to U.S. universities, said Tom Moon, deputy head of consultancy at Oxbridge Applications, which helps students in their university applications. There has been an uptick in applications to British universities from prospective students in the U.S., said Universities UK, an organisation that promotes British institutions. It cautioned, however, that it was too early to say whether that translates into more students enrolling. REPUTATIONAL EFFECTS Ella Rickets, an 18-year old first year student at Harvard from Canada, said she receives a generous aid package paid for by the school's donors and is concerned that she won't be able to afford other options if forced to transfer. "Around the time I was applying to schools, the only university across the Atlantic I considered was Oxford... However, I realised that I would not be able to afford the international tuition and there was no sufficient scholarship or financial aid available," she said. If Harvard's ability to enrol foreign students is revoked, she would most likely apply to the University of Toronto, she said. Analytics firm QS said overall visits to its 'Study in America' online guide have declined by 17.6% in the last year — with interest from India alone down over 50%. "Measurable impacts on enrolment typically emerge within six to 18 months. Reputational effects, however, often linger far longer, particularly where visa uncertainty and shifting work rights play into perceptions of risk versus return," said QS' Turner. That reputational risk, and the ensuing brain drain, could be even more damaging for U.S. institutions than the immediate economic hit from students leaving. "If America turns these brilliant and talented students away, they will find other places to work and study," said Caleb Thompson, a 20-year-old U.S. student at Harvard, who lives with eight international scholars. (Reporting by John Geddie in Tokyo; Laurie Chen and Larissa Liao in Beijing and Sam Tabahriti in London; Editing by Michael Perry)

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Universities seek to lure US-bound students amid Trump crackdown

Universities seek to lure US-bound students amid Trump crackdown By Laurie Chen, Larissa Liao, Sam Tabahriti and John Geddie TOKYO/BEIJING/L...

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Half of world's population endured extra month of extreme heat due to climate change, experts say

Half of world's population endured extra month of extreme heat due to climate change, experts say

Scientists say 4 billion people, about half the world's population, experienced at least one extra month of extreme heat because of human-caused climate change from May 2024 to May 2025. The extreme heat caused illness, death, crop losses, and strained energy and health care systems, according to the analysis from World Weather Attribution, Climate Central and the Red Cross. "Although floods and cyclones often dominate headlines, heat is arguably the deadliest extreme event," the report said. Many heat-related deaths are unreported or are mislabeled by other conditions like heart disease or kidney failure. The scientists used peer-reviewed methods to study how much climate change boosted temperatures in an extreme heat event and calculated how much more likely its occurrence was because of climate change. In almost all countries in the world, the number of extreme heat days has at least doubled compared with a world without climate change. Caribbean islands were among the hardest hit by additional extreme heat days. Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, endured 161 days of extreme heat. Without climate change, only 48 would have occurred. "It makes it feel impossible to be outside," said Charlotte Gossett Navarro, chief director for Puerto Rico at Hispanic Federation, a nonprofit focused on social and environmental issues in Latino communities, who lives in the San Juan area and was not involved in the report. "Even something as simple as trying to have a day outdoors with family, we weren't able to do it because the heat was too high," she said, reporting feeling dizzy and sick last summer. When thepower goes out, which happens frequently in Puerto Rico in part because of decades of neglected grid maintenance and damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017, Navarro said it is difficult to sleep. "If you are someone relatively healthy, that is uncomfortable, it's hard to sleep ... but if you are someone who has a health condition, now your life is at risk," Gossett Navarro said. Heat waves are silent killers, said Friederike Otto, associate professor of climate science at Imperial College London, one of the report's authors. "People don't fall dead on the street in a heat wave ... people either die in hospitals or in poorly insulated homes and therefore are just not seen," he said. Low-income communities and vulnerable populations, such as older adults and people with medical conditions, suffer the most from extreme heat. The high temperatures recorded in the extreme heat events that occurred in Central Asia in March, South Sudan in February and in theMediterraneanlast July would have not been possible without climate change, according to the report. At least 21 people died inMoroccoafter temperatures hit 118 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius) last July. People are noticing temperatures are getting hotter but don't always know it is being driven by climate change, said Roop Singh, head of urban and attribution at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, in a World Weather Attribution statement. "We need to quickly scale our responses to heat through better early warning systems, heat action plans, and long-term planning for heat in urban areas to meet the rising challenge," Singh said. City-led initiatives to tackle extreme heat are becoming popular in parts of South Asia, North America, Europe and Australia to coordinate resources across governments and other agencies. One example is atree-planting initiativelaunched in Marseille, France, to create more shaded areas. The report says strategies to prepare for heat waves include monitoring and reporting systems for extreme temperatures, providing emergency health services, cooling shelters, updated building codes, enforcing heat safety rules at work, and designing cities to be more heat-resilient. But without phasing out fossil fuels, heat waves will continue becoming more severe and frequent and protective measures against the heat will lose their effectiveness, the scientists said. ____ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

byJoseph Holiday

in

May 30, 2025

Half of world's population endured extra month of extreme heat due to climate change, experts say

Half of world's population endured extra month of extreme heat due to climate change, experts say Scientists say 4 billion people, about...

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