Phoebe Dong has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for running a birth tourism scheme. The scheme helped pregnant Chinese women give birth in the United States to secure citizenship for their children. Dong and her husband charged up to $40,000 for their services. Dong expressed remorse during her sentencing hearing. Her husband was previously sentenced to 41 months in December.
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Twelve students are suing US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. They allege violation of First Amendment rights. The lawsuit challenges book bans in Pentagon-operated schools. The bans target materials on race, gender identity, and LGBTQ+ issues. ACLU represents the students in Virginia federal court. Removed titles include 'I know why the caged bird sings'.
James Coxall, frustrated with the ongoing eight-month-long road damage in Castle Camps, creatively highlighted a large pothole by placing artificial legs in it. His humorous display, crafted from discarded clothing and timber, gained positive attention from locals and social media. The local authority has promised to assess and repair the road soon.
President Joe Biden has announced his intent to lift Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, aiming to secure the release of political prisoners through a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church by Jan. 20. His decision is expected to be swiftly reversed by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump and Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio.
"We can’t ignore the educational achievement crisis anymore. Students in China are 4 years ahead of ours here. Students in Singapore are a full 5 years ahead. 75% of U.S. 8th graders aren’t in proficient in math. Shutting down the failed U.S. Dept of Education is a good first step, but it’s going to fall on the states to fix the problem," Ramaswamy said.
Protesters gathered at Stonewall National Monument to express their outrage over the removal of transgender and queer references from the National Park Service website. This followed President Trump's executive order recognising only two sexes. Demonstrators voiced concerns about the erasure of trans, nonbinary, and queer identities, and activists like Bernie Wagenblast vowed to resist the changes and fight for recognition and rights.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2023 state visit to the White House, New Delhi gifted US First Lady Jill Biden a $20,000 lab diamond, the most expensive present. Modi also gave President Biden a carved sandalwood box, statue, oil lamp, and a book. Gifts totaling around $35,000 were presented to various US officials.
Residents of South Lebanon, accompanied by the army, attempted to return to their villages on Monday after Israeli fire killed over 20 people. The Lebanese government extended the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah and Israel until February 18. Despite efforts, many were unable to return due to Israeli military presence. Both sides blamed each other for delays in the ceasefire's implementation, while Lebanon's army pledged to protect residents from further attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for stronger international action after Russia launched 172 attack drones, killing four and injuring dozens. He emphasized the necessity for global pressure to force Russia into peace and criticized the lack of response to ceasefire proposals.
Escalating tensions between the US and Colombia could significantly impact coffee, flower, and other Colombian imports, raising prices for American consumers. The trade dispute stems from Colombia's refusal to accept US deportation flights, prompting potential tariffs and threats that risk billions in US exports, including corn and chemicals.
A federal judge has dismissed the corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams, ruling out any possibility of reindictment. The decision eliminates allegations of political interference, with Judge Dale Ho emphasizing that Adams' political freedoms should not be compromised by prosecution threats.