Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins has been chosen as the designated survivor for President Trump's 2025 joint address to Congress. Collins, a former congressman, ensures government continuity by staying at a secure location while top officials gather at the Capitol.
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Israel has banned the UNRWA from operating on its territory, effective immediately, despite international backlash. The move follows accusations from Israeli officials that the agency is linked to Hamas. This decision threatens vital services for Palestinian refugees, including schools and clinics. UN officials warn that it will disrupt aid delivery to millions in Gaza and other regions, while Palestinians see it as a bid to undermine their right of return.
Frenchman Dominique Pelicot, convicted in December for organizing the rape of his wife, Gisèle, is now being questioned over an attempted rape and a rape-murder case from the 1990s. Pelicot, 72, is under investigation for the 1991 murder of Sophie Narme and a 1999 attempted rape, with DNA evidence linking him to the latter. Pelicot denies involvement in the 1991 case but admitted the 1999 crime. Concerns have risen about other potential undetected crimes.
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.
In Florida, a man named Jordan Wilson was apprehended by Jacksonville Sheriff's officers on horseback after allegedly dealing illegal drugs. Despite trying to escape on foot, he was outpaced and surrendered. Wilson was charged with resisting without violence and later released. The mounted unit highlighted their effective crime-fighting efforts on social media.
Former TV star Wendy Williams, who was diagnosed with dementia and stays at a New York assisted living facility, was taken away by an ambulance Monday after the cops were called following Williams' plea for help from the window of her room. According to reports, she tossed a handwritten note out of the window begging for help. "Help! Wendy!" the note said.
A South Korean court has overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and reinstated him as acting president. Han assumed the role after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached for imposing martial law, leading to a major political crisis. The constitutional court has yet to decide on Yoon's impeachment.
Hamas announced the deaths of two youngest hostages, aged 2 and 5, along with their mother, and plans to return their bodies to Israel. Amid ongoing tensions, Israel faces pressure to advance the ceasefire's next phase as negotiations for further hostages continue.
​Agnifilo pointed out the perp walk that was much discussed and condemned when Mangione was brought to New York City from Pennsylvania. He was made to do a perp walk in NYC as mayor Eric Adams was also present there. "It was the biggest perp walk I've ever seen. What was the NYC mayor doing there? These staged perp walks are unconstitutional," Agnifilo said.
President Trump opposes President Biden's environmentally-friendly paper straw initiative, announcing plans to bring back plastic straws via an executive order. The move aligns with Trump's previous environmental policies, including withdrawal from the Paris climate accord. He has consistently criticized paper straws for their ineffectiveness.
USAID is under heavy scrutiny after a Trump administration crackdown and a 90-day pause in foreign assistance. Concerns over the agency's expenditures, including funding initiatives in LGBTQ and other social domains, have been raised. The list of controversial spending includes significant amounts for projects in diverse regions, sparking debates about the agency's accountability.