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Russia Claims Capture of 2 More Ukrainian Villages Amid Ceasefire Stalemate

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Russia announced on Saturday the capture of two villages in Eastern and Southern Ukraine, pushing forward in its offensive as U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to broker a ceasefire face continued challenges. 

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its forces seized the village of Shchebraki in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Panteleimonivka in the eastern Donetsk region. 

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia launched over 170 drones into Ukraine overnight, hitting targets in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Khmelnytskyi regions. In Dnipro, a strike on a hotel complex killed four people and wounded 21 others, including a pregnant woman. 

“Russia is mocking global peacekeeping efforts, prolonging the war and spreading terror because it feels no real pressure,” Zelensky said. 

In Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, Russian strikes killed one person and injured 14 others, according to regional governor Oleg Sinegubov. 

Efforts led by the United States to negotiate ceasefires in the Black Sea and in strikes on energy infrastructure in both countries have been met with uncertainty. While both sides have agreed to truces in principle, accusations of bad faith have hindered implementation. 

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a “transitional administration” for Ukraine under UN auspices—a move that would require Zelensky’s removal before any peace deal could be reached. The proposal has been met with strong opposition from Kyiv. 

Plane Crashes into Minnesota Home, Igniting Massive Fire as Firefighters Battle Blazing Inferno

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MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota  — A small plane crashed into a house in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, around 12:20 p.m. on Saturday, engulfing the residence in flames and prompting swift action from firefighters. 

Dramatic videos shared on social media capture the burning home consumed by a fierce fireball, thick smoke billowing into the sky as firefighters ordered nearby residents to evacuate. The home was left charred within minutes, and authorities confirmed that no one inside the house was injured. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the aircraft as a SOCATA TBM-700, a small plane capable of carrying up to six people. The plane had taken off from Des Moines International Airport in Iowa and was en route to Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minneapolis when it crashed, just eight miles from its destination. 

“We do not yet know how many people were on board,” the FAA stated. 

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said, “My team is in touch with local officials on the scene in Brooklyn Park, and we are monitoring the situation closely. Grateful to the first responders answering the call.” 

The crash occurred near 108th Avenue North and Noble Avenue, leading to evacuations in the surrounding area. 

Saturday’s incident follows a series of recent aviation accidents across the U.S., including a mid-air collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter that killed all 67 on board when wreckage fell into the Potomac River. 

In recent weeks, a burning jet engine forced American Airlines passengers to escape onto the wing of a plane in Denver, and a fiery crash in Pennsylvania injured five when a plane landed atop parked cars. Last month, a medical jet crash in Philadelphia claimed six lives, including a young girl who had just undergone life-saving surgery. 

Russian Drone Attack in Dnipro Kills Four, Injures 19 Amid Widespread Destruction

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A Russian drone attack on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed four people, injured 19, and triggered a large fire late Friday, according to regional authorities. The attack targeted a hotel and restaurant complex, along with multiple buildings, sparking blazes that were later contained by firefighters, said Serhiy Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region. 

Lysak reported on Telegram that a high-rise apartment building and nearly 10 private homes were set ablaze in the attack. In an earlier post, he warned that the casualty count could rise, with three of the injured in critical condition. 

“The enemy directed more than 20 drones toward the city,” Lysak wrote, noting that most were intercepted. 

Images and videos shared online captured flames and thick plumes of smoke rising into the night sky. Footage showed the shattered interior of a building, the heavily damaged upper floors of a high-rise, and debris-strewn streets littered with broken glass and rubble. 

Reuters independently verified the location and timing of the incident. 

Columbia University Interim President Resigns Amid Campus Controversy

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NEW YORK — Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, has resigned, the university announced Friday, as the institution faces scrutiny from the government and rights advocates over its handling of last year’s Gaza protests. 

Armstrong will return to lead Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center, according to a university statement that did not specify a reason for the leadership change. Claire Shipman, co-chair of the Board of Trustees, has been named acting president effective immediately, and will serve until a permanent successor is appointed, the statement said. 

The Trump administration recently canceled $400 million in federal funding for Columbia, accusing the university of failing to adequately address antisemitism and ensure student safety during campus protests over Israel’s military operations in Gaza last year. The university agreed last week to implement changes demanded by the administration, a decision criticized by rights advocates who condemned the move as an attack on free speech. 

In a campus-wide email, Armstrong emphasized her commitment to “advance our mission, ensure uninterrupted academic activities, and make every student, faculty, and staff member feel safe and welcome on our campus.” 

Columbia was a focal point of nationwide Gaza encampment protests in the summer of 2024, where demonstrators called for an end to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and urged universities to divest from companies linked to Israel. 

Columbia University Activist Khalil Remains Jailed as Judge Weighs Venue for Case

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NEWARK, N.J.  — Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil remains in custody in Louisiana as a U.S. judge deliberates whether his legal challenge against detention should proceed in a federal court in New Jersey or Louisiana. 

The Trump administration argues that Khalil’s challenge belongs in Louisiana, where he is currently detained and where appeals would be overseen by the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz in Newark did not indicate when he would rule but expressed hope that “judges are judges, and they’re going to see things the same way in whatever place.” 

The case tests the government’s efforts to deport pro-Palestinian activists who have not been charged with crimes. Khalil’s lawyers contend that he was targeted for his political views and leadership in student protests, and they have requested his release from jail while he fights the deportation case in immigration court. 

Khalil, 30, has been held in Louisiana since his arrest earlier this month. His wife, Noor Abdalla, a U.S. citizen, attended Friday’s hearing and is expecting their first child in April. Khalil was briefly detained in New Jersey following his arrest in Manhattan. 

The government has asked Judge Farbiarz to either transfer the case to Louisiana or dismiss the proceeding, allowing Khalil to challenge his detention there. The Trump administration claims Khalil and other international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests threaten U.S. foreign policy interests and has revoked the visas of hundreds of foreign students involved in such demonstrations. 

Khalil, who was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, came to the U.S. in 2022 on a student visa and gained legal permanent residency last year. The government accuses him of failing to disclose what it calls a “membership” in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), though Khalil’s lawyers and UNRWA assert he completed an unpaid internship at its New York office as part of his Columbia master’s degree program. 

The government also claims Khalil did not reveal continued employment at the British embassy in Beirut beyond 2022. Khalil’s attorneys say he correctly noted his departure from the position, and a spokesperson for the British Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office confirmed he left the embassy more than two years ago. 

Powerful Earthquake Devastates Myanmar and Thailand, Killing Over 150 People

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YANGON, Myanmar  — A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and neighboring Thailand on Friday, toppling buildings, bridges, and a monastery. The quake killed at least 144 people in Myanmar, with video and photos from two severely affected cities revealing extensive damage. In Thailand, a high-rise under construction collapsed in Bangkok, killing 10 people. 

The full scale of the destruction in Myanmar remains unclear, particularly in areas where the military government restricts information flow amid an ongoing civil war. Myanmar’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, announced on television that at least 144 people had died and 730 others were injured. 

In Thailand, Bangkok authorities confirmed 10 fatalities, 16 injuries, and 101 missing from three construction sites, including the collapsed high-rise. 

The earthquake struck at midday near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, triggering aftershocks, one measuring 6.4 in magnitude. In Mandalay, the quake damaged multiple buildings, including a prominent monastery. Photos from Naypyidaw showed rescue crews retrieving victims from rubble. 

Myanmar’s government reported a dire need for blood in the hardest-hit areas. Despite a history of reluctance to accept foreign aid, Min Aung Hlaing stated Myanmar was ready for international assistance. The United Nations has allocated $5 million for relief efforts. 

In Naypyidaw, rescuers scrambled to clear debris, but concerns grew over how they would reach remote areas already enduring a humanitarian crisis. “We fear it may be weeks before we understand the full extent of destruction,” said Mohammed Riyas, Myanmar director for the International Rescue Committee. 

Myanmar’s state media reported collapsed buildings in five cities, two fallen bridges, and severe damage to the capital’s main 1,000-bed hospital. Videos showed monks in Mandalay recording a monastery before it suddenly crumbled. Christian Aid confirmed reports of a dam burst, causing flooding. 

In Bangkok, a 33-story building collapsed in a cloud of dust, prompting panic as people fled the scene. Rescuers combed through the debris while ambulances ferried the injured away. The elevated transit system and subway were shut down. 

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic. “In my lifetime, there was no earthquake like this in Bangkok,” said Voranoot Thirawat, a lawyer who fled her office. Tourist Fraser Morton recalled widespread panic in a shopping mall, while Paul Vincent described seeing a high-rise swaying as water poured from a rooftop pool. 

The quake was felt as far away as China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, causing damage and injuries in the city of Ruili. Videos showed building debris and injured people being carried on stretchers. 

The U.S. Geological Survey and Germany’s GFZ center for geosciences classified the quake as a shallow 10-kilometer event, known to cause severe damage. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the death toll could exceed 1,000. 

AP

Trump Seeks Supreme Court Approval to Resume Deporting Venezuelan Migrants Under Wartime Law

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WASHINGTON, D.C.  — The Trump administration on Friday petitioned the Supreme Court for permission to resume deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century wartime law, as legal battles continue. 

The emergency appeal comes after a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., rejected the administration’s request to lift an order temporarily blocking the deportations. The appellate court’s 2-1 decision allowed the order to remain in place, halting the removals of Venezuelan migrants under the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act. 

The Justice Department argued in court filings that federal courts should not interfere with sensitive diplomatic negotiations. It also stated that detained migrants should seek legal recourse in Texas, where they are currently held. 

U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, the chief judge at the federal courthouse in Washington, issued the order preventing deportations. President Donald Trump’s administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act for the first time since World War II, citing a presidential proclamation labeling the Tren de Aragua gang an invading force. 

“Here, the district court’s orders have rebuffed the President’s judgments as to how to protect the Nation against foreign terrorist organizations and risk debilitating effects for delicate foreign negotiations,” acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote in the court filing. 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit on behalf of five Venezuelan noncitizens detained in Texas shortly after the presidential proclamation was announced. The court set a Tuesday deadline for a response from the ACLU. 

Lee Gelernt, lead attorney for the ACLU, said, “We will urge the Supreme Court to preserve the status quo to give the courts time to hear this case, so that more individuals are not sent off to a notorious foreign prison without any process, based on an unprecedented and unlawful use of a wartime authority.” 

The legal battle has intensified tensions between the White House and federal courts. Boasberg previously ordered a temporary halt on deportations and instructed planeloads of Venezuelan migrants to return to the U.S., a directive that was not followed. The administration has cited “state secrets privilege” and declined to provide additional details on the deportations. 

Calls for Boasberg’s impeachment from Trump and his allies were met with a rare statement from Chief Justice John Roberts, who asserted, “Impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.” 

The Alien Enemies Act permits deportations without hearings before immigration or federal court judges. However, Boasberg ruled that immigrants facing deportation must have the opportunity to challenge their designation as alleged gang members. 

“There is a strong public interest in preventing the mistaken deportation of people based on categories they have no right to challenge,” Boasberg wrote. 

The temporary ban on deportations is set to expire on Saturday, but the ACLU has requested an extension until April 12 and intends to seek a preliminary injunction to prevent further deportations under the Alien Enemies Act while the lawsuit continues. 

5 Injured in Amsterdam Stabbing; Suspect in Custody

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AMSTERDAM  — Five people were injured in a stabbing incident near Amsterdam’s central Dam Square on Thursday, according to police. The victims include two Americans, a Polish man, a Belgian woman, and a Dutch woman, ranging in age from 19 to 73. 

The male suspect, who was subdued with the help of bystanders, was taken to the hospital with a leg injury after his arrest. Authorities said the motive for the attack remains “under investigation,” but they are exploring the possibility that the suspect acted randomly. 

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema confirmed that a police investigation is “in full swing” and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. “Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and loved ones,” she said. 

Emergency services responded to multiple reports of a stabbing incident at around 3:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. GMT). Officers quickly arrived at the scene and discovered five injured individuals at various locations in and around Sint Nicolaasstraat in the city center. 

Authorities secured a large area around the Royal Palace on Dam Square, where an emergency helicopter landed. The square, a popular spot for tourists, lies in the heart of Amsterdam’s historic district. 

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and panic. A witness told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that they heard an “icy scream” before panic broke out. Another witness, quoted by Amsterdam outlet Het Parool, described seeing a knife protruding from a young woman’s back. 

Police initially reported four victims but later confirmed five people were wounded, along with the suspect. Authorities are urging anyone with images or video footage of the incident to upload them as evidence. 

King Charles Briefly Hospitalized After Cancer Treatment Side Effects

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LONDON  — Britain’s King Charles was briefly hospitalized on Thursday after experiencing side effects from ongoing cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace confirmed. Royal sources described the incident as a “minor bump in the road,” emphasizing the king’s recovery remains on track. 

The 76-year-old monarch has been undergoing treatment since being diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in February last year. The diagnosis followed tests conducted after a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate. 

Buckingham Palace stated that King Charles has since returned to his residence at Clarence House, and, as a precaution, his engagements scheduled for Friday will be rescheduled. Queen Camilla did not accompany him to the hospital. 

“His Majesty was due to receive credentials from the ambassadors of three different nations this afternoon. Tomorrow, he was set to undertake four public engagements in Birmingham and is greatly disappointed to be missing them on this occasion,” a palace spokesperson said. “He very much hopes these engagements can be rescheduled in due course and offers his deepest apologies to all those who had worked so hard to make the planned visit possible.” 

While the palace declined to specify the nature of the side effects, a royal source described the situation as a “minor setback” that was not uncommon with medical treatments. The king remains in good spirits, continuing to work from his study and making calls, the source added. 

His upcoming state visit to Italy next month, accompanied by Queen Camilla, is expected to proceed as planned, and no further health updates are anticipated. 

King Charles’ initial cancer diagnosis, made less than 18 months into his reign, came as a shock. However, royal aides have remained optimistic about his health. Although his schedule is managed carefully, he has maintained a busy agenda. 

Known for his dedication to work, King Charles is often described as a workaholic who tirelessly attends to official papers late into the night. Family members, including Queen Camilla, have frequently urged him to pace himself. 

The king’s medical team is reportedly closely involved in managing his schedule, acknowledging that treatment reactions can be unpredictable. 

The monarch’s health issues coincide with those of his daughter-in-law, Kate, 43, wife of Prince William, who also underwent cancer treatment. In January, Kate announced she is in remission and has gradually resumed royal duties. 

Trump’s Health and Human Services to Lay Off 10,000 Workers, Close Agencies in Major Restructuring

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WASHINGTON — In a sweeping overhaul, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will lay off 10,000 workers and shut down several agencies, including those overseeing billions in funds for addiction services and community health centers nationwide. The restructuring, announced Thursday by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., targets inefficiencies in what he described as a “sprawling bureaucracy” responsible for a decline in Americans’ health.

“I want to promise you now that we’re going to do more with less,” Kennedy said in a video posted on social media.

The restructuring caps weeks of turmoil at HHS, following rumors of mass firings, the revocation of $11 billion in public health funding for cities and counties, a tepid response to a measles outbreak, and controversial remarks about vaccines from Kennedy. The department’s workforce will shrink from 82,000 to 62,000 positions, eliminating 10,000 jobs through layoffs and another 10,000 through early retirement and voluntary separation offers encouraged by the Trump administration.

Kennedy acknowledged a “painful period” ahead for HHS, which is tasked with monitoring infectious diseases, inspecting food and hospitals, and overseeing health insurance programs for nearly half the country. The restructuring will centralize procurement, IT, and communications under HHS, reducing autonomy for the NIH, FDA, and CDC.

Federal health workers at NIH and FDA, both in Maryland, expressed shock, fear, and uncertainty, describing anxiety over potential job losses. HHS provided details on 7,400 cuts: 3,500 jobs at the FDA, 2,400 at the CDC, 1,200 at the NIH, and 300 at CMS.

Kennedy said the plan would save $1.8 billion annually but did not provide a breakdown.

The restructuring also includes plans to shutter some agencies created by Congress. The Health Resources and Services Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will be merged into a new Administration for a Healthy America. Critics argue closing SAMHSA could undermine addiction and mental health efforts.

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response will be eliminated and folded into the CDC, a move critics say risks national health security.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) criticized the cuts, warning of reduced health services and longer waits for treatments. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) urged patience, saying lawmakers would “fix what’s broken.”

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