A federal judge has ordered several U.S. government agencies to reinstate probationary employees who were terminated last month, ruling that their dismissal was unlawful.
U.S. District Judge William Alsup
U.S. District Judge William Alsup’s order on Thursday applies to the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Energy, Interior, and Treasury. The ruling mandates that the agencies “offer reinstatement to any and all probationary employees terminated on or about February 13,” referring to the date when the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directed agencies to fire probationary employees.
Alsup determined that the OPM’s directive—issued through both a written memo and a phone call—was not legally valid.
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he participates in a town hall presented by Spanish-language network Univision, in Doral, Florida, U.S., October 16, 2024. REUTERS/Marco Bello
The decision follows a legal challenge over the broad dismissal of probationary federal workers, which was ordered during a February 13 OPM call with department and agency heads. The ruling could have significant implications for federal employment policies and the rights of workers in their probationary period.
The affected agencies have not yet responded to the court order. It remains unclear how quickly the reinstatement process will be implemented.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels warned early Wednesday that “any Israeli vessel” traveling through Middle Eastern waters is now a target, escalating tensions in a crucial global shipping route. The warning follows Israel’s continued blockade of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The Houthis’ announcement further destabilizes a vital maritime corridor linking Asia and Europe, poses a threat to Egypt’s Suez Canal revenues, and raises concerns over the safe passage of aid shipments to war-affected areas. The rebels have previously used a broad definition of Israeli-affiliated ships, suggesting that other vessels could also be at risk.
The statement, issued by the Houthis’ Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center, follows a four-day deadline the group had set for Israel to resume aid shipments into Gaza.
“We hope it is understood that the actions taken by the [Houthi military] … stem from a deep sense of religious, humanitarian and moral responsibility toward the oppressed Palestinian people and aim to pressure the Israeli usurper entity to reopen the crossings to the Gaza Strip and allow the entry of aid, including food and medical supplies,” the statement read.
The warning covers the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea. The statement further declared: “Any Israeli vessel attempting to violate this ban will be subject to military targeting in the declared operational area.”
There was no immediate sign of an attack, and Israel’s military did not respond to requests for comment.
Israel recently halted all aid deliveries into Gaza, warning of “additional consequences” for Hamas if ceasefire negotiations fail to extend the current pause in hostilities. The move has drawn international criticism, as Gaza’s over 2 million residents rely heavily on humanitarian assistance.
The maritime security firm Ambrey warned that the Houthis’ statements were “ambiguous” and could put additional ships at risk. The firm suggested that the threat likely extends to vessels partially owned, managed, or operated by Israeli entities, as well as those heading to Israeli ports.
There was no direct threat against the U.S. Navy, but previous Houthi attacks have targeted American and allied warships. The Bahrain-based U.S. 5th Fleet, which patrols the region, remains on high alert. The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier group is currently operating in the Red Sea, with the U.S. military stating Wednesday that its forces “remain vigilant.”
“We will do what is necessary to protect and defend U.S. personnel, assets, and partners,” the U.S. military said.
The rebels’ leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, had warned last Friday that attacks on Israel-linked vessels would resume if aid to Gaza was not allowed. That deadline expired on Tuesday.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks on over 100 merchant vessels, sinking two and killing four sailors. These operations have increased the group’s global profile amid Yemen’s ongoing civil war, while the Houthis have also tightened control at home through crackdowns on dissent and restrictions on humanitarian aid workers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia agrees with U.S. proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine but emphasized that any agreement must address the root causes of the conflict and require further negotiation on key details.
Speaking at a Kremlin news conference following talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin stated that Russia supports a halt to hostilities but insisted that any cessation of fighting should lead to a lasting peace.
“We agree with the proposals to cease hostilities,” Putin said. “But we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and would eliminate the original causes of this crisis.”
Since launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has triggered the largest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War. Russian forces have made significant advances since mid-2024 and currently control nearly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has vowed to end the war, said at the White House on Wednesday that he hoped Moscow would agree to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has expressed willingness to support. Trump described the ongoing conflict as a “bloodbath” and pushed for a temporary halt in fighting as a step toward broader negotiations.
Putin thanked Trump for his diplomatic efforts.
“The idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it,” Putin said. “But there are issues that we need to discuss. And I think we need to talk to our American colleagues as well.”
He added that he might call Trump to discuss the proposal further, stating, “We support the idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means.”
Putin’s remarks came a day after he visited a Russian command post in the western Kursk region, where Russian forces have intensified operations. Ukraine is facing growing pressure on the battlefield following recent Russian territorial gains.
Kuwait has released a group of American prisoners, including veterans and military contractors who had been jailed for years on drug-related charges, in a move seen as a goodwill gesture between the two allied nations, a representative for the detainees said Wednesday.
The release follows a recent regional visit by Adam Boehler, the Trump administration’s top hostage envoy, and comes amid ongoing U.S. efforts to bring home American citizens imprisoned abroad.
Six of the freed prisoners were accompanied on a flight from Kuwait to New York by Jonathan Franks, a consultant specializing in cases involving American hostages and detainees. Franks had been in Kuwait to assist in securing their release.
“My clients and their families are grateful to the Kuwaiti government for this kind humanitarian gesture,” Franks said in a statement. He added that his clients maintain their innocence and that additional Americans he represents are also expected to be released by Kuwait in the near future.
The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The names of the released individuals were not made public.
Kuwait did not acknowledge the release on its state-run KUNA news agency and did not respond to requests for comment. Prisoner releases often coincide with the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr holiday in many Muslim-majority countries.
Kuwait, a strategic U.S. ally bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia, hosts approximately 13,500 American troops at Camp Arifjan and Ali al-Salem Air Base. The two nations have maintained strong military ties since the U.S. led the 1991 Gulf War to expel Iraqi forces after Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait.
Despite their close alliance, Kuwait has imprisoned multiple American military contractors on drug charges, with some detainees held for years. Families of those detained have alleged mistreatment and abuse in the Kuwaiti prison system, where alcohol is banned and drug laws are strictly enforced. Some have accused Kuwaiti authorities of fabricating charges and evidence against American detainees—allegations that Kuwait’s government has not acknowledged.
The U.S. State Department warns that drug offenses in Kuwait can carry long prison sentences and, in some cases, the death penalty. While U.S. military personnel in Kuwait are generally subject to American laws under defense cooperation agreements, these protections typically do not extend to civilian contractors.
Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump’s administration has focused on securing the release of Americans detained abroad. His administration recently arranged a prisoner swap with Russia to secure the release of American schoolteacher Marc Fogel and announced the release of a U.S. citizen imprisoned in Belarus.
The Americans freed from Kuwait on Wednesday had not been officially designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained—a classification that allows cases to be handled by the administration’s special presidential envoy for hostage affairs. Advocates for Americans jailed abroad are hopeful that the Trump administration will adopt a broader approach to securing the release of detainees who have not been given wrongful detention status.
“The sad reality is that these Americans were left in prison for years due to a misguided policy that had, before President Trump took office, effectively abandoned Americans abroad who hadn’t been designated wrongfully detained,” Franks said in a statement.
“These releases demonstrate what is achievable when the U.S. government prioritizes bringing Americans home,” he added.
The United Kingdom has expelled a Russian diplomat and a diplomatic spouse in retaliation for Moscow’s expulsion of two British embassy staff earlier this week, the British government announced Wednesday.
The UK Foreign Office summoned Russian Ambassador Andrei Kelin to formally inform him of the decision, citing an “increasingly aggressive and coordinated campaign of harassment against British diplomats.” Officials described Moscow’s actions as an attempt to pressure the British embassy in Moscow into closing.
“We will not tolerate the Kremlin’s campaign of intimidation or repeated attempts to threaten UK security,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on X, formerly Twitter.
No departure timeline was provided for the Russian diplomats.
On Monday, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged via RIA Novosti that the two expelled British diplomats had provided false personal information while seeking permission to enter Russia. The FSB accused them of engaging in intelligence-gathering activities that posed a security threat but did not present evidence to support its claims.
According to RIA Novosti, Russia revoked the British diplomats’ accreditations and ordered them to leave within two weeks.
The UK Foreign Office responded, stating that any further escalation by Russia would be met with an appropriate response.
Diplomatic tensions between Russia and the UK have remained high, particularly since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The expulsion of diplomats has become increasingly common as relations between Russia and Western nations deteriorate. UK-Russia relations were already strained after the 2018 Salisbury poisoning, in which former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter were targeted with the Novichok nerve agent. The UK government blamed Moscow for the attack, a claim the Kremlin denies.
Robert Preston Morris, a former pastor of a Texas megachurch, has been indicted in Oklahoma on child sexual abuse charges decades after allegations first surfaced. The state’s attorney general’s office announced Wednesday that Morris, 63, faces five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
The indictment alleges the abuse began in 1982 when the victim, identified as C.C., was 12 years old. At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist staying with the victim’s family in Hominy, Oklahoma. Prosecutors claim the abuse continued for four years.
Cindy Clemishire, who has publicly identified herself as the victim, expressed gratitude for the indictment. “After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child,” said Clemishire, now 55. “Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable.”
Attempts to reach Morris for comment were unsuccessful. Phone numbers associated with him were disconnected, and it remains unclear whether he has legal representation.
Morris, the founder of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, resigned from his position last year after the allegations resurfaced on the religious watchdog blog The Wartburg Watch.
In response to the indictment, Gateway Church issued a statement acknowledging the legal proceedings and offering prayers for the victim. “We are aware of the actions being taken by the legal authorities in Oklahoma and are grateful for the work of the justice system in holding abusers accountable for their actions,” the church stated.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond condemned the allegations, emphasizing the severity of the charges. “There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children,” Drummond said. “This case is all the more despicable because the alleged perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for justice.”
If convicted, Morris could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges. As of Wednesday, he had not been taken into custody.
Morris, once a politically influential figure, previously hosted former President Donald Trump at Gateway Church’s Dallas campus in 2020 for a discussion on race relations and the economy.
Gateway Church, one of the largest congregations in the United States, operates multiple locations across Texas.
The case underscores growing scrutiny over allegations of abuse within religious institutions, as victims continue to come forward seeking justice.
A mass grave and three cremation ovens containing charred human remains have been discovered at a suspected extermination camp in Jalisco, Mexico, during a family’s search for a missing loved one.
The gruesome site, located on a ranch in Teuchitlán, was uncovered by the nonprofit Guerreros Buscadores collective after receiving an anonymous tip on March 5. Investigators also found personal belongings, including 400 pairs of shoes, clothing, jewelry, diaries, and a handwritten note believed to be from a victim.
“We found charred remains, remains of charred human bodies in graves,” said Indira Navarro, a member of the search group. Bones, bullet casings, and magazines were also recovered, suggesting the site was used as a training ground for organized crime.
Authorities suspect the notorious Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) is behind the secret extermination camp. Police confirmed that three large cremation furnaces used by the cartel were found on the property, along with piles of abandoned belongings.
A particularly chilling discovery was a Bible containing photos of three children. “These photos may be a sign of hope for some family,” the collective said, according to the Daily Mail. A notebook listing 54 nicknamed victims was also found, though officials have not yet confirmed their identities.
Jalisco has the highest number of missing persons in Mexico, with nearly 15,000 reported cases, according to the National Search Commission.
The discovery comes as tensions escalate between the Mexican government and powerful drug cartels following U.S. pressure to crack down on organized crime. Former President Donald Trump’s executive order designated eight Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, prompting arrests, extraditions, and drug lab seizures.
However, with top cartel leaders removed from power, rival factions are now battling for control in key regions, including tourist hotspots.
Former Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) official Stacy Zinn warned that cartel violence poses a significant risk for Americans visiting Mexico, particularly Spring Break travelers.
“Mexico is a hot potato right now with cartels being labeled as terrorist organization affiliates,” Zinn told The U.S. Sun. “We’ve seen an uptick in violence… Americans or travelers can still get caught up in the crossfire of rival members trying to establish new boundaries.”
With ongoing cartel conflicts and an increasing number of missing persons, authorities continue to investigate the mass grave and the full extent of its connection to organized crime.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited troops in the Kursk region on Wednesday, ordering a full liberation of the area and calling captured Ukrainian fighters “terrorists.”
State television broadcast images of Putin wearing a camouflage-print shirt as he listened to a briefing from Armed Forces Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin had visited one of the command centers overseeing Russian operations in the region.
“I am counting on the fact that all the combat tasks facing our units will be fulfilled, and the territory of the Kursk region will soon be completely liberated from the enemy,” Putin said in televised remarks.
Russian forces have been engaged in a counteroffensive in Kursk, pushing back Ukrainian troops who have controlled parts of the region since August. Gerasimov reported that 430 Ukrainian soldiers had been captured during the fighting.
Putin stated that the captured fighters should be treated as terrorists under Russian law, indicating they could face prosecution and long prison sentences.
The Commission for University Education (CUE) has flagged 15 institutions for operating illegally in Kenya, cautioning that academic certificates issued by these entities will be deemed fake.
In a public notice, CUE warned that degrees and diplomas from these institutions would not be recognized. The listed institutions include Eldoret Bible College, Al-Munawwarah College, Grace Life Bible College, Africa Theological Seminary, Kenya Anglican University, The East African University, Bradgate International University, Regions Beyond Ministry Bible College, Baraton College, The Africa Talent University, Breakthrough Bible College, Theophilus Theological College, Northwestern Christian University, Logos University, Harvest Land University, and Word of Faith Bible College.
Additionally, CUE provided a list of 79 accredited institutions authorized to operate in Kenya, including public and private universities, private university constituent colleges, and institutions with letters of interim authority.
“For the avoidance of doubt, any institution operating as a university or degree-awarding entity that does not appear on the Commission’s list of approved institutions is illegal, and their degree qualifications will not be recognized in Kenya,” the notice stated.
The institutions flagged by CUE include:
#
Institution Name
County
1
Eldoret Bible College
Uasin Gishu
2
Al-Munawarrah College
Mombasa
3
Grace Life Bible College
Vihiga
4
Africa Theological Seminary
Kitale
5
Regions Beyond Ministry Bible College
Thika
6
Baraton College
Kapsabet
7
The Africa Talent University
Kisumu
8
Breakthrough Bible College
Nairobi
9
Theophillus Theological College
Kiambu
10
Northwestern Christian University
Kakamega
11
Logos University
Kakamega
12
Harvest Land University
Kisumu
13
Word of Faith Bible College
Vihiga
14
Kenya Anglican University-Kanyuambora
Embu
15
The East African University Bradegate International University
Nyeri
The announcement follows a recent raid on Northwestern Christian University’s graduation ceremony in Mombasa by police officers and CUE officials due to its lack of accreditation.
CUE Chair Prof. Chacha Nyaigotti reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to shutting down illegal institutions nationwide. “When we find institutions parading themselves as legitimate while offering unauthorized bachelor’s and master’s degrees, it is our duty to bring an end to this violation of the law,” he said.
Two Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers conducted a flight over neutral Baltic Sea waters, the state-run news agency RIA reported, citing the Defence Ministry.
The flight, lasting more than four hours, saw foreign fighter jets accompanying the Russian planes at certain stages, though the ministry did not specify which countries were involved.
All nations bordering the Baltic Sea—Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—are NATO members.
Russian jets were intercepted multiple times over the Baltic last year, in what analysts have described as both surveillance operations and acts of defiance against NATO.
