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Brown University Doctor Deported to Lebanon Despite Judge’s Order

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A Rhode Island doctor and assistant professor at Brown University’s medical school was deported to Lebanon despite a judge’s order blocking her immediate removal, according to court filings. 

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, 34, was deported before a federal judge in Boston could hold a hearing on the case. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin, appointed by President Barack Obama, demanded an explanation on Sunday, questioning whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had “willfully” disobeyed his order. 

Sorokin stated he had received a “detailed and specific” timeline from an attorney representing Alawieh, raising concerns that his ruling may have been violated. 

CBP has not disclosed the reason for her removal. The deportation occurred amid the Trump administration’s broader efforts to restrict border crossings and increase immigration enforcement. 

CBP spokesperson Hilton Beckham said migrants must prove admissibility and that officers “adhere to strict protocols to identify and stop threats.” 

Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen living in Providence, was detained Thursday upon arriving at Boston’s Logan International Airport from Lebanon, where she had visited family, according to a lawsuit filed by her cousin, Yara Chehab. 

She had held a U.S. visa since 2018, initially for a two-year fellowship at Ohio State University. She later completed a fellowship at the University of Washington and trained at the Yale-Waterbury Internal Medicine Program, finishing in June. 

While in Lebanon, Alawieh was issued an H-1B visa permitting her to work at Brown University, the lawsuit said. Despite the visa, CBP detained her upon arrival, without providing her family an explanation, according to court filings arguing her rights were violated. 

In response, Sorokin issued an order Friday night preventing her removal from Massachusetts without 48 hours’ notice and requiring her to appear in court Monday. 

However, attorneys for her cousin stated that after the order was issued, Alawieh was flown to Paris and then placed on a flight to Lebanon, which was scheduled to depart Sunday. 

On Sunday, Sorokin ordered the government to provide a legal and factual response by Monday morning and to preserve all communications regarding Alawieh’s detention and deportation. 

The case comes amid broader concerns about whether the Trump administration is complying with court rulings that block parts of its immigration policies. 

The administration also announced Sunday that it had deported hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador under rarely used wartime powers, despite a federal judge’s order temporarily halting such deportations.

Putin and Trump to Discuss Ukraine War in Tuesday Call

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U.S. President Donald Trump is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday as diplomatic efforts continue to address the war in Ukraine. 

Trump announced the scheduled call to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening while traveling from Florida to Washington. The Kremlin confirmed Putin’s participation on Monday morning. 

“We will see if we have something to announce maybe by Tuesday. I will be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday,” Trump said. “A lot of work’s been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end.” 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the call but declined to provide details, stating that the content of discussions between the two leaders would not be disclosed in advance. 

European allies have expressed concerns over Trump’s approach to Russia and his stance toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who faced criticism during a recent visit to the Oval Office. 

Despite Russia’s failure to overthrow Ukraine following its invasion three years ago, it continues to control significant portions of the country. Trump indicated that territorial divisions and power plants would be part of the discussions. 

“We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants,” he said, referring to negotiations over certain assets. 

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently traveled to Moscow to advance talks. 

Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—after launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, but does not fully control any of them. Last year, Putin demanded Kyiv withdraw its troops from all four regions as a condition for peace. Additionally, Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. 

In the occupied Zaporizhzhia region, Moscow controls the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, which has been repeatedly caught in the crossfire. The International Atomic Energy Agency has raised concerns over the facility, warning of potential nuclear risks. 

During his remarks aboard Air Force One, Trump also reaffirmed his plan to impose tariffs on April 2 despite market disruptions and economic concerns. 

“April 2 is a liberating day for our country,” he said. “We’re getting back some of the wealth that very, very foolish presidents gave away because they had no clue what they were doing.” 

Trump dismissed any intention of reversing his stance on tariffs, stating that his administration would maintain reciprocal trade measures, particularly on automobiles, steel, and aluminum. 

Texas Megachurch Pastor to Surrender in Oklahoma on Child Sexual Abuse Charges

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A former Texas megachurch pastor is expected to surrender to Oklahoma authorities on Monday after being charged with child sexual abuse. 

Robert Preston Morris, 63, will turn himself in to officials in Osage County, where he faces five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, his attorney Mack Martin confirmed to The Associated Press. 

Martin declined to comment on the charges but indicated that Morris would likely enter a not guilty plea. Court records show that an Osage County judge set a $50,000 bond and ordered Morris to surrender his passport. 

Morris, who previously led Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, resigned last year after allegations surfaced that he sexually abused a woman in the 1980s. 

According to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office, the alleged abuse began in 1982 when the victim, identified as C.C. in the indictment, was 12 years old. At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist staying with her family in Hominy, Oklahoma. The abuse allegedly continued for four years. 

Cindy Clemishire, the accuser, expressed gratitude to authorities for pursuing the case and said she is hopeful for justice. 

“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.” 

The Associated Press typically does not identify individuals in sexual abuse cases, but Clemishire has chosen to make her name public. 

Morris, known for his political connections, previously hosted President Donald Trump at Gateway Church’s Dallas campus in 2020 for a discussion on race relations and the economy. 

If convicted, Morris faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges, according to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office.

AP

Coventry Double Stabbing: One Man Dead, Another Suffers Severe Facial Injuries

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A man has died, and another has sustained “potentially life-changing facial injuries” following a double stabbing in Coventry, West Midlands Police have confirmed. 

Officers were called to a property on Newcombe Road just before 2 p.m. on Saturday, where they discovered two men suffering from severe stab wounds. 

One man, in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second man, also in his 50s, was rushed to the hospital with serious facial injuries that police described as “potentially life-changing.” 

A 51-year-old man from Coventry has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody for questioning. 

West Midlands Police stated that forensic examinations and investigations are ongoing, with a police presence remaining at the scene. 

“Officers will be carrying out additional patrols in the area to reassure and support the local community over the coming days, and we urge anyone with concerns or information to contact us,” the force said in a statement. 

The investigation continues, and authorities are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant information to come forward.

Tornadoes and Dust Storms Leave at Least 34 Dead in Southern US

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At least 34 people have died across multiple southeastern US states after a series of violent tornadoes ripped through the region, overturning vehicles and destroying homes. 

In Kansas, a dust storm on Friday afternoon caused a massive highway pile-up involving more than 50 vehicles, killing at least eight people. Texas also reported a similar large-scale crash due to reduced visibility. 

Authorities have declared a state of emergency in several states, including Arkansas, Georgia, and Oklahoma, where more than 100 wildfires are burning. Severe weather is expected to continue, with flash flooding and additional tornado warnings issued for Sunday. 

The National Weather Service (NWS) has classified the ongoing tornado threat as “intense to violent” and “particularly dangerous.” Residents in Alabama were urged to seek shelter on Saturday night as multiple tornado warnings were issued. 

As of Sunday morning, over 250,000 properties across the US were without power, according to data from PowerOutage. 

In Missouri, at least 12 people lost their lives. Governor Mike Kehoe described the devastation caused by the storms, which left homes leveled and communities in ruins. The state’s emergency management agency reported that 19 tornadoes had touched down across 25 counties. 

One of the victims’ homes was completely destroyed. Butler County Coroner Jim Akers described the scene as unrecognizable, stating, “It was just a debris field… The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls.” 

Alicia Wilson, who was evacuated from her home in Missouri, described the terrifying ordeal to KSDK, saying, “It was the scariest thing I’ve ever been through. It was so fast, our ears were all about to burst.” 

In Mississippi, a woman recounted how her six-year-old daughter was overcome with fear as the storm hit. “All I could hear was my six-year-old screaming that she didn’t want to die. You don’t want to hear that coming out of your baby’s mouth,” Jericho McCoy told reporters. 

In Texas, at least four people died in a 38-car pile-up caused by a dust storm, local officials confirmed. Sergeant Cindy Barkley from the state’s public safety department said, “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen. We couldn’t tell they were all together until the dust kind of settled.” 

The severe weather has also triggered widespread wildfires. In Oklahoma alone, emergency officials reported more than 130 fires on Friday. By Saturday, hospitals had treated at least 112 fire-related injuries. 

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt surveyed the damage, revealing that his own ranch had been completely destroyed. “Oklahomans, we are in this together, and we will build back stronger,” he said. 

Meteorologists warn that tornadoes typically form when warm, moist air rises and interacts with cooler air, creating powerful rotating storm systems. Several states, including Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas, lie within “Tornado Alley,” an area frequently impacted due to its unique geography. 

While peak tornado season in the region is from May to June, experts caution that dangerous storms can occur at any time of the year. Emergency responders remain on high alert as the situation continues to unfold.

WIPED OUT: Moment Ukraine Obliterates Key Russian Bridge in Blow to Putin’s War Supply Lines as Fighting Rages Despite Peace Talks

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The huge fireball explosion was caught on camera as Ukrainian forces obliterated a strategic Russian bridge in Kherson, dealing a major setback to Vladimir Putin’s military operations. 

The bridge, which crossed the Konka River, was reduced to rubble in a precision airstrike. This vital supply route had been used by Russian forces to transport weapons and reinforcements for more than three years. However, Ukraine’s devastating strike has forced the Kremlin to scramble for an alternative, further weakening its grip on the occupied region. 

Video footage captured the moment a pinpoint missile strike shattered two sections of the bridge, sending them plunging into the river below. A massive fireball erupted, followed by thick plumes of smoke that quickly spread over the occupied area. The strike rocked the nearby town of Oleshky, leaving Russian troops stunned by the sudden loss of a critical supply route. 

The Konka River, a key tributary of the Dnipro River, has been a dividing line between Ukrainian-controlled and Russian-occupied areas of Kherson. This latest attack not only disrupts Russian supply lines but also signals Ukraine’s ability to strike deep into enemy-held territory. 

The attack comes shortly after Ukraine successfully tested its new Long Neptune missile, a powerful combat weapon with an impressive 621-mile range. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the missile had already been deployed in battle, marking a major advancement in Ukraine’s military firepower. 

Despite a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire, Putin has refused to agree, instead delaying negotiations with stalling tactics. Zelensky lashed out at the Russian leader, accusing him of lying about wanting peace while secretly planning further military offensives. 

Ukrainian intelligence warns that Russia is massing troops along the eastern border, with signs pointing to a potential invasion of the Sumy region. Zelensky issued a stark warning: 

“We are aware of this and will counter it. The buildup of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy. It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war.” 

In a high-level virtual summit hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, world leaders called for an end to the fighting and explored ways to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses. Starmer confirmed that European military officials will meet on Thursday to discuss a possible Ukraine peacekeeping force, signaling increased international pressure on Moscow. 

The British PM also condemned Russia’s refusal to negotiate, accusing Putin of deliberately dragging out the war to buy time for new offensives. 

With Ukraine ramping up its counterattacks and Putin refusing to back down, the battle for Kherson and the wider war rages on with no end in sight. 

Moment Feared Venezuelan Gang Tren de Aragua Members Deported from U.S. and Hauled into El Salvador’s Notorious Terrorism Confinement Centre-Dailymail

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Shackled and in handcuffs, more than 200 alleged members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang were deported from the United States and transferred to El Salvador’s maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) in a highly coordinated operation. 

Footage shared by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele showed detainees being escorted from a plane into a heavily guarded convoy before being taken to the prison. The facility, known for its extreme security measures, is central to Bukele’s crackdown on organized crime. 

The deported individuals, described by U.S. officials as violent gang members, were sent to El Salvador following an agreement between Bukele and U.S. authorities. Along with Tren de Aragua members, the transfer included two top leaders of MS-13 and 21 of its most wanted fugitives. 

CECOT, considered one of the world’s most secure prisons, holds more than 13,000 inmates under strict confinement. Prisoners spend 23.5 hours per day in overcrowded cells, with surveillance measures preventing any outside communication. 

The deportations followed an executive order by President Donald Trump, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to classify Tren de Aragua as a hostile force. The administration cited links between the gang and the Venezuelan government, labeling its members a security threat to the United States. 

A federal judge issued a temporary halt to further deportations under the order, but the first transfer had already taken place. Trump’s directive remains under legal challenge from civil rights groups. 

While officials praised the deportations as a step toward combating transnational crime, human rights groups have condemned the conditions at CECOT. The prison, built to hold 40,000 inmates, operates under a strict regime, with detainees subjected to limited legal access and harsh living conditions. 

Bukele defended his government’s approach, stating that El Salvador is committed to eliminating gang violence. The Biden administration has not confirmed whether it will continue enforcing Trump’s deportation order. 

Houthis Claim Attack on USS Harry Truman After U.S. Airstrikes in Yemen

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Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim to have attacked the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier and several U.S. warships in the Red Sea, alleging the strike was in retaliation for recent American airstrikes in Yemen.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated Sunday that the group targeted the aircraft carrier and its escort vessels using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. “The armed forces, with the help of God Almighty, carried out a qualitative military operation targeting the American aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman and its accompanying warships in the northern Red Sea,” Sarea said in a televised statement. 

U.S. defense officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, dismissed the claims, stating there was no indication of any attack on the Truman. 

The Houthis’ announcement followed U.S. airstrikes ordered by President Donald Trump, which killed at least 31 people in Yemen. The strikes were carried out in response to Houthi raids on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. 

The Iran-backed rebel group has previously targeted Israeli-linked ships during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Houthi leaders claim recent U.S. and British strikes on Yemen resulted in civilian casualties, stating that 101 people were wounded. 

Trump vowed to take decisive action against the group, pledging to use “overwhelming lethal force” and calling on Iran to cut its support for the Houthis immediately. 

Doctor Claims Gene Hackman’s Wife Called Him a Day After Her Reported Death, Raising New Questions

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A doctor has cast doubt on the reported timeline of Betsy Arakawa’s death, claiming she called his clinic a full 24 hours after officials say she had already passed. 

Betsy, the longtime wife of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, was officially recorded as having died on February 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare and often fatal disease linked to rodent exposure. Her husband, suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s, passed away a week later on February 18. 

However, Dr. Josiah Child, an emergency care specialist and operator of Cloudberry Health in Santa Fe, told *The Daily Mail* that Betsy couldn’t have died on February 11—because she allegedly called his clinic on February 12. 

Dr. Child recalled that Betsy had reached out to his clinic a few weeks prior to inquire about an echocardiogram for her husband. Though she was not a patient of his, a former patient had recommended Cloudberry Health to her. 

“She made an appointment for herself for February 12,” Child said. “It was for something unrelated to anything respiratory.” 

Two days before that appointment, Betsy canceled, citing her husband’s declining health. Afterward, the clinic attempted to contact her, but received no response. 

Hantavirus is typically transmitted through exposure to rodent urine, droppings, and saliva, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virus is known for causing severe respiratory distress, with most patients succumbing in a hospital setting. 

“It is surprising that Mrs. Hackman spoke to my office on the phone on February 10 and again on February 12 and didn’t appear to be in respiratory distress,” Dr. Child noted, while also clarifying that he is not an expert in hantavirus cases. 

His concerns add to lingering questions about Betsy’s death. Her husband, already battling severe cognitive decline, was reportedly alone in their home for several days following her passing. It remains unclear if he was aware of her death. 

Gene Hackman, a two-time Academy Award-winning actor, was last detected alive on February 18 when his pacemaker transmitted its final signal. The medical examiner determined his cause of death as hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiac disease, noting that his Alzheimer’s played a “significant” role. Notably, Hackman tested negative for hantavirus, according to Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell. 

The bodies of both Hackman and Arakawa were not discovered until February 26, when a concerned neighbor and caretaker called 911 after finding them unresponsive in their home.  The couple had largely withdrawn from public life in their later years, residing in a secluded cul-de-sac within a gated community. Hackman is survived by three children—two daughters and a son—from his previous marriage. 

SpaceX Capsule Docks with ISS, Prepares to Bring Stranded NASA Astronauts Home

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A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) early Sunday, delivering a fresh crew to replace two NASA astronauts who have been stranded aboard the station for more than nine months. 

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were originally scheduled for a brief roundtrip aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June 2024, have been unable to return after propulsion issues rendered the vehicle unsafe for their journey back to Earth. Their long-awaited relief arrived at 05:45 GMT when the SpaceX capsule, carrying four new crew members, securely connected to the ISS. 

Live footage broadcast by NASA showed the moment the arriving astronauts embraced their ISS counterparts in the weightlessness of space. 

“It’s a wonderful day, and it’s great to see our friends arrive,” Williams said after greeting her replacements. 

NASA astronaut Don Pettit shared footage of the Crew Dragon’s approach as the ISS orbited Earth, marking a key moment in the complex mission to retrieve the long-overdue astronauts. 

Wilmore and Williams’ extended stay significantly exceeded the typical six-month rotation for ISS crews. However, their nine-month mission is still well short of the 371-day U.S. spaceflight record set by NASA astronaut Frank Rubio in 2023 or the world record of 437 days set by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov aboard the Mir space station. 

The prolonged mission, which left the duo unexpectedly away from family, required them to receive additional clothing and personal items to accommodate their extended time in space. Their situation has drawn global interest and sympathy. 

Now that their replacements have arrived, Wilmore and Williams will begin preparations for their long-awaited return. They are scheduled to splash down off the Florida coast no sooner than March 19, aboard the returning Crew Dragon capsule. 

Joining them on the journey home will be NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, further highlighting ongoing international collaboration aboard the ISS. 

The incoming Crew-10 team—composed of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov—launched from Kennedy Space Center on Friday. 

Their mission includes conducting vital scientific experiments, such as flammability tests for future spacecraft designs and studies on how space travel affects the human body. These investigations will help pave the way for long-term space missions, including potential journeys to Mars. 

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