Author: Andrew Rogers

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani attended a peace vigil Tuesday evening in Union Square organized by Israelis for Peace. The event marked the two-year anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel and called for an end to violence and occupation. Mamdani was joined by NYC comptroller Brad Lander, his former Democratic rival and now supporter. Speakers at the vigil urged justice, peace, and equal rights for both Israelis and Palestinians. Earlier, Mamdani’s public statement on the anniversary drew criticism from Israeli officials. He condemned the 2023 Hamas attacks as a “horrific war crime,” mourning over 1,100…

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the ICE facility in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday, joined by conservative social media influencers Benny Johnson, Nick Sortor, and David Media. The visit drew controversy as state officials accused ICE officers of provoking protesters and using excessive force. Noem and the influencers filmed her praying with officers and giving a pep talk inside the facility. Outside, Portland police blocked streets, keeping a small group of peaceful demonstrators at a distance. Some protesters wore costumes, including a chicken suit and baby shark outfit, while others played satirical songs. The visit occurred amid claims by the…

The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) says federal employees furloughed during the ongoing government shutdown are not automatically entitled to back pay. In a draft memo obtained by Axios, OMB general counsel Mark Paoletta told budget director Russell Vought that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA) of 2019 does not guarantee payments. Back pay requires explicit congressional appropriations. “The legislation that ends the current lapse in appropriations must include express language appropriating funds for back pay for furloughed employees, or such payments cannot be made,” Paoletta wrote. The OMB recently revised guidance on the shutdown, removing…

Israel Hamas talks resumed in Egypt with a positive first day, offering hope for easing the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Negotiators met in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday to discuss steps from a proposed 20-point plan by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Reports say the meeting concluded with a roadmap for continuing discussions. These are the first major indirect negotiations since violence escalated in Gaza earlier this year. The talks aim to explore agreements that could lead to a lasting ceasefire and improve humanitarian conditions for civilians. Sources said both sides expressed willingness to continue dialogue, with more sessions scheduled for…

The Pelicot rape appeal is underway as Husamettin Dogan, 44, challenges his conviction for sexually abusing Gisèle Pelicot. Pelicot, 72, had been drugged unconscious by her husband before being assaulted by multiple men. On the first day of the appeal trial in Nîmes, southern France, Dogan told the court he “never intended” to rape Pelicot. He admitted having sexual contact with her but claimed he did not know she was drugged. Pelicot survived nearly a decade of repeated sexual abuse after her husband, Dominique Pelicot, invited men he met online to assault her while she was unconscious. She became an…

Oregon protests misinformation has surfaced after the state’s Republican Party shared a doctored image claiming Portland protests were out of control. The posts appeared just before a federal judge blocked former President Donald Trump from sending California’s National Guard to the city. The posts, shared on Facebook, Instagram, and X, celebrated the planned deployment of 300 California National Guard troops. Officials said the troops were to protect federal buildings and personnel after the judge ruled Oregon’s National Guard could not be deployed. The images showed police officers holding riot shields and young men with flares lighting up a night sky.…

A federal judge has refused to immediately stop President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops to Illinois, following a lawsuit filed by the state on Monday. Troops from Texas could arrive in Chicago as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday, while Trump also seeks to federalize the Illinois National Guard. A similar attempt to deploy troops in Portland, Oregon, was blocked by a judge. Illinois filed the lawsuit after Trump ordered National Guard forces into the state without the consent of Governor JB Pritzker. State Attorney General Kwame Raoul asked the court to block the president from deploying state or…

Millions of households in England could face bigger water bill increases than previously expected as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) prepares to issue a preliminary decision on water industry spending plans. Five water companies—Anglian, Northumbrian, Southern, Wessex, and South East—appealed to the CMA seeking permission to raise bills above the levels previously set by the industry regulator, Ofwat. Together, these companies serve nearly 15 million customers. Thames Water, serving another 16 million, has paused its appeal amid debt negotiations. Under England and Wales’s largely privatised water system, Ofwat sets household bills over five-year periods. In December, Ofwat forecasted that…

The United States is entering its second week of a government shutdown, with analysts warning the standoff between Democrats and Donald Trump’s Republicans could last for weeks. Political experts say deep partisan divisions have put compromise out of reach, raising concerns about prolonged disruption to federal agencies and services. Andrew Koneschusky, a former press secretary for Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, said, “It’s possible this shutdown drags on for weeks, not just days. Right now, both sides are dug in and there’s very little talk of compromise.” At the core of the dispute is a Democratic demand to extend health…

US forces carried out another strike against a vessel illegally carrying drugs off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump announced during a speech at the US Navy’s 250th anniversary celebration. Speaking to thousands of sailors at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, Trump emphasized that the United States would also address drug trafficking occurring on land. Trump delivered his remarks next to the Harry S Truman aircraft carrier. It was not immediately clear whether he was referencing a strike previously reported by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump said the Navy had supported the mission “to blow the cartel terrorists the…