A fire at a hotel resort construction site in the South Korean port city of Busan killed six people, with a helicopter rescuing 14 who had taken refuge on a rooftop, authorities said Friday.
The Busan Fire & Disaster Headquarters reported that around 100 people were evacuated from the site, where construction was underway on three buildings spanning 12 above-ground floors and three basement levels.
A fire agency official said on live television that approximately 25 people sustained minor injuries, including some from smoke inhalation.
Officials said the fire appeared to have started in insulation material near an indoor swimming pool on the first floor of one of the buildings.
South Korea’s Acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered all available resources to be deployed to contain the blaze, according to a statement from his office.
The Trump administration, in collaboration with adviser Elon Musk, continued efforts to reduce the federal workforce on Friday, resulting in thousands of layoffs across multiple agencies. The move impacts workers responsible for securing nuclear weapons, managing public lands, and providing care for military veterans.
Sources told *Reuters* that between 1,200 and 2,000 employees at the Department of Energy were laid off, including staff overseeing the nation’s nuclear stockpile. An additional 2,300 workers were dismissed from the Interior Department, which manages 500 million acres of public land, including more than 60 national parks and offshore oil and gas leases. The Department of Agriculture also saw an undisclosed number of job losses, sources said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to lose nearly 1,300 workers, accounting for one-third of its staff, according to *The Associated Press*. These cuts contribute to a broader reduction targeting agencies such as Veterans Affairs, Education, and the Small Business Administration.
Officials from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), responsible for overseeing federal hiring, advised agencies to terminate probationary employees during a Thursday meeting, according to a person familiar with the matter. Government data indicates that of the 2.3 million civilian federal employees, approximately 280,000 were hired in the past two years, with most still on probation and thus more vulnerable to layoffs.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has also seen terminations beyond probationary employees, sources said, with fixed-term contract workers among those let go.
President Donald Trump has defended the cuts, arguing that the federal government is bloated and wasteful. The U.S. government carries $36 trillion in debt and ran a $1.8 trillion deficit last year.
However, congressional Democrats argue that Trump’s actions infringe on legislative authority over federal spending. Despite Republican control of both chambers, some lawmakers have voiced concerns about the widespread job losses.
“I take Secretary Collins at his word when he says there will be no impact to the delivery of care, benefits, and services for veterans with this plan,” said Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, referring to Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins. The department confirmed more than 1,000 layoffs on Thursday.
The full scope of layoffs remains unclear, but estimates suggest that more than 9,500 employees across various federal departments and agencies lost their jobs this week, according to multiple reports.
Musk, the world’s richest person, has played a central role in the restructuring, using his influence in the Trump administration to accelerate cuts. Critics have questioned his approach, describing it as overly aggressive and lacking in coordination.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed concerns, comparing Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative to a financial audit.
“These are serious people conducting audits across agencies and looking for best practices,” Bessent told *Fox Business Network*, dismissing concerns over the speed and severity of the layoffs.
Musk is reportedly relying on a team of young engineers with limited government experience to lead the restructuring, with decisions appearing to be guided more by ideological goals than cost-cutting measures. This has led to growing frustration within the White House, including among Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, sources told *Reuters*.
Steve Lenkart, executive director of the National Federation of Federal Employees, which represents over 100,000 workers, expects Musk and the administration to focus next on regulatory agencies.
“This is about reducing government oversight on industry and wealthy individuals, which explains why Musk is so involved,” Lenkart said.
Beyond layoffs, Trump and Musk have introduced a voluntary buyout program for federal employees, aiming to reduce the workforce further. Approximately 75,000 workers have accepted the offer, representing about 3% of civilian federal employees.
Some remaining workers have expressed concern about their job security. “I decided to roll the dice and stick around,” said a General Services Administration employee, who requested anonymity. “It’s unsettling, to say the least.”
Federal employee unions have filed lawsuits to block the buyout program and mass terminations. The American Federation of Government Employees announced legal action against the firings of probationary workers on Thursday.
A lawsuit filed by attorneys general from 14 states challenges Musk’s appointment and seeks to bar him from further government actions. Additional legal battles involve data privacy concerns, as Musk’s team has gained access to government computer systems containing sensitive personnel and financial data.
Three federal judges will review lawsuits regarding DOGE’s access to Treasury Department payment systems and other sensitive information from health, labor, and consumer protection agencies. The Treasury Department’s inspector general has launched an audit into system security following a congressional request.
DOGE has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the mass layoffs, but an OPM spokesperson stated that the firings align with newly implemented government policies.
Palestinian militant groups in Gaza announced they will release three hostages— Iair Horn, U.S.-Israeli national Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Russian-Israeli Alexandre Sasha Troufanov—on Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The hostages were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, when militants overran communities near the Gaza Strip. Horn’s brother, Eitan, remains in captivity. In return, Hamas stated that Israel is expected to release 369 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The announcement came after days of uncertainty over whether the 42-day ceasefire would hold, following mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar to maintain the U.S.-backed truce.
Israel’s response to the list of hostages was unclear. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office initially stated that Israel “accepted” the list before issuing a revised statement saying it had “received” it.
“This was a mere factual description that does not reflect an Israeli comment on the issue,” the statement said.
Hamas had earlier threatened to halt hostage releases, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire by restricting humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. Israel denied the allegations, warning of a potential resumption of military operations.
Public outrage in Israel over the frail condition of previously released hostages and their public display in Gaza before being handed to Red Cross officials had intensified tensions ahead of the upcoming release.
As uncertainty persisted, the Israeli military said it was calling up reserve units and placing forces near the Gaza border on high alert for possible renewed combat.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the crisis, calling for an end to the ceasefire unless all hostages were released on Saturday.
Hamas agreed last month to release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of a six-week ceasefire. The truce was intended to pave the way for negotiations on the release of remaining hostages, Israeli military withdrawals, and the potential end of the war.
However, Hamas accused Israel of blocking the delivery of essential supplies, including tens of thousands of tents and temporary shelters, leaving displaced civilians exposed to harsh winter conditions.
“No caravans, heavy equipment, or machinery have entered the Gaza Strip from the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing so far,” said Salama Marouf, head of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office. “We hope they will enter in the coming hours according to assurances from the relevant parties.”
The Israeli military agency COGAT reported that 4,200 humanitarian aid trucks had entered Gaza over the past week, carrying food, fuel, medical supplies, tents, and shelter materials.
Despite increased deliveries, international aid groups warn that the current aid flow remains insufficient to meet the needs of Gaza’s displaced population.
The war erupted following Hamas-led attacks on Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the taking of more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials.
Israel’s subsequent military campaign has devastated Gaza, killing more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The offensive has left much of the territory in ruins, with most of its population displaced and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
As negotiations continue, the fate of remaining hostages and the fragile ceasefire remain uncertain.
The U.S. Navy confirmed that the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman collided with a merchant vessel late Wednesday near Port Said, Egypt. No injuries or significant damage were reported.
According to a Navy statement released Thursday, both vessels were in motion when the collision occurred. The impact did not result in flooding or injuries aboard the carrier, and its propulsion systems remained unaffected.
The merchant vessel involved was identified as the Besiktas-M. A defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that no crew members aboard the merchant ship were injured. Further details about the incident have not yet been publicly disclosed.
The USS Truman, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, deployed in September to the Mediterranean and Middle East. The collision happened shortly after the carrier completed a port visit in Souda Bay, Greece.
NATO’s future was thrown into uncertainty this week after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a shift in Washington’s security priorities, raising concerns about the alliance’s commitment to European defense.
Addressing nearly 50 Western backers of Ukraine, Hegseth said the United States will no longer consider European security its primary focus. “The United States faces consequential threats to our homeland. We must—and we are—focusing on the security of our own borders,” he said.
Hegseth confirmed that Ukraine will not regain all of its territory from Russia and will not be allowed to join NATO, ruling out the collective security guarantee that could deter future Russian aggression.
He also stated that NATO will not deploy forces for post-war security in Ukraine. While European nations could form a peacekeeping force, they would have to fund and manage it independently. “No American troops would take part in such an operation,” he said.
Beyond Ukraine, Hegseth said NATO would not intervene if a European country participating in a Ukraine peacekeeping mission were attacked. His comments left uncertainty about any U.S. role in such a scenario.
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu called the moment a serious test for NATO. “To say that it’s the biggest and most robust alliance in history is true, historically speaking. But the real question is whether that will still be the case in 10 or 15 years,” he said.
NATO, founded in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union, operates under Article 5 of its treaty, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all. Hegseth’s remarks raised concerns about the U.S. commitment to that principle, which has been central to NATO’s credibility for 75 years.
While he stated that the U.S. has no plans to leave NATO, his comments signaled a shift in Washington’s approach. NATO has expanded to 32 countries, with Sweden joining in 2023 over concerns about Russian aggression. However, the alliance requires unanimous consent for decisions, and Hegseth’s statements effectively blocked Ukraine’s membership.
The United States remains NATO’s most powerful member, contributing the largest share of defense spending. Hegseth’s speech reinforced Washington’s control over the alliance’s direction.
NATO’s day-to-day operations are overseen by Secretary-General Mark Rutte, while military leadership is always held by a U.S. general, currently Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli. Despite these leadership roles, shifting U.S. priorities could impact NATO’s future operations.
Although NATO members have provided military aid to Ukraine, the alliance itself does not send weapons. Instead, it offers non-lethal support such as fuel, body armor, and medical supplies. In 2024, European NATO members provided 60% of Ukraine’s military aid.
NATO has also helped modernize Ukraine’s military strategy, shifting it from Soviet-era tactics. However, the alliance’s role remains limited, leading to misunderstandings about its direct involvement in the conflict.
Hegseth’s remarks marked a pivotal moment for NATO, exposing divisions within the alliance. With the U.S. shifting its focus elsewhere, NATO’s ability to maintain its strength and unity in the coming years remains uncertain.
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration can move forward with its federal worker buyout program, dealing a blow to unions attempting to block the initiative. The decision paves the way for the administration to accelerate efforts to downsize the U.S. government.
U.S. District Judge George O’Toole in Boston lifted a previous order that had temporarily halted the program at the request of unions representing over 800,000 federal employees. He determined the unions lacked legal standing to challenge the buyout plan.
The American Federation of Government Employees and other unions had argued that the administration’s “deferred resignation” offer, extended to more than two million federal civilian employees, was unlawful.
“The unions do not have the required direct stake in the Fork directive, but are challenging a policy that affects others, specifically executive branch employees,” O’Toole, a Clinton appointee, wrote in his ruling. “This is not sufficient.”
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which announced the program in a Jan. 28 email titled “Fork in the Road,” informed employees this week that it intends to close the program to new entrants as soon as legally permissible.
As of Friday, approximately 65,000 federal workers had signed up for the buyouts, according to a White House official. The initiative is part of the Trump administration’s broader plan to implement widespread job cuts across federal agencies.
The White House did not immediately comment on the ruling, and union attorneys have yet to indicate whether they will appeal.
Trump, who began his second term on Jan. 20, has appointed Elon Musk as a “special government employee” to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency. The department aims to cut federal spending and restructure the 2.2 million-strong workforce, potentially leading to mass layoffs.
Democrats and other critics have accused Musk—who leads Tesla and SpaceX—of improperly overhauling the government. Some federal employees have staged protests against his role in the initiative.
Last month, OPM sent an email to nearly all federal employees, offering them the option to resign immediately while retaining full pay and benefits until Sept. 30. Workers could remain on the payroll without being required to report in person or perform job duties. Employees needed only to reply with the word “resign” to accept the offer.
The structure of the email closely resembled a message Musk sent to Twitter employees after acquiring the platform, now known as X, in 2022.
The U.S. Department of Justice defended the initiative as a “humane off-ramp” for workers dissatisfied with Trump’s plans to reduce the government workforce and limit remote work.
The buyout applies to roughly two million federal civilian employees, excluding those in immigration, national security, and the U.S. Postal Service.
As the deadline approached, the administration reiterated warnings that most federal agencies would be downsized—seen by employees as pressure to accept the offer.
Unions had challenged the directive in court, arguing it was “stunningly arbitrary” and violated the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from exceeding congressional budget allocations.
They also warned that allowing widespread resignations without considering their impact on agency functions could compromise government operations.
O’Toole had previously delayed the initial Feb. 6 deadline for employees to resign, extending it to Monday before placing it on hold pending further review. However, his latest ruling allows the program to proceed, though unions may still seek relief through the appeals process.
A high-ranking official in Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has been arrested on suspicion of working as a Russian agent, marking the latest in a series of espionage crackdowns since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
While the SBU did not name the individual, Ukrainian media citing sources identified him as Col. Dmytro Kozyura, chief of staff of the agency’s anti-terrorism center. Footage released by local media showed Kozyura handcuffed as he was taken into custody by SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk.
According to an SBU statement, the suspect—described as a “rat”—allegedly passed classified intelligence to Russian handlers in at least 14 documented instances. Investigators gathered evidence using audio and video surveillance, as well as access to his mobile devices and computers.
SBU chief Malyuk, who personally oversaw the operation, briefed President Volodymyr Zelensky throughout the investigation. The agency revealed that Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) recruited the suspect in Vienna in 2018, but he remained inactive until communication resumed last December.
“Thanks to encrypted program bookmarks, we gained access to the traitor’s gadgets—mobile terminals, computers,” Malyuk said in a video statement posted on the SBU website. “We basically lived with him, conducted audio and video monitoring, and documented the transmission of intelligence to the enemy.”
Malyuk added that during the investigation, Ukrainian authorities deliberately fed Moscow false information to mislead Russian intelligence.
“The self-cleansing of the SBU continues,” he said. “No matter how the enemy tries to penetrate our ranks, we detect them in a timely manner, document their actions, and detain them.”
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has intensified efforts to root out Russian operatives within its institutions, unveiling multiple counterintelligence operations.
A British FIFA employee has been arrested in Miami on suspicion of having sexual relations with an underage boy, leading to his immediate suspension from the world football governing body.
Jack Coles, a project leader for FIFA Sound, was detained Friday by Homeland Security Investigations agents at a hotel near FIFA’s Coral Gables offices, according to the Miami Herald.
Federal authorities allege Coles met a 14-year-old boy through a men’s dating app in October during a business trip from Zurich. The boy reportedly told Coles he was 16. Investigators say Coles attempted to reconnect with the minor last week.
FIFA released a statement acknowledging the “ongoing legal proceedings in Miami,” noting that “the alleged offenses are serious and of a personal matter with no link to his work at FIFA.” The organization confirmed Coles’ immediate suspension from all duties.
Coles faces charges of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activities. Additional investigation is underway regarding allegations of traveling to the United States with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
The arrest occurred near FIFA’s Coral Gables base, established in 2023 ahead of the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The facility houses approximately 100 staff members from over 30 countries in its Legal and Compliance Division.
Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif is pushing back against the International Boxing Association (IBA) after the organization filed a legal complaint over her participation in the Paris Olympics. Khelif, who won gold amid a gender-eligibility dispute, called the accusations “false and offensive,” as the IBA escalated its battle with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The IBA announced Monday that it had lodged a complaint with Swiss Attorney General Stefan Blatter against the IOC, citing safety concerns over gender eligibility. The organization stated it would file similar complaints in France and the United States.
The complaint specifically named Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, arguing that their participation denied opportunities to “deserving female athletes.” The IBA referenced former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order banning transgender women from female sports as validation of its stance. Trump previously referred to Khelif as “a male boxer” in a speech following the order’s signing.
Khelif, who has always competed as a woman, was previously ruled ineligible for the 2023 world championships after a sex chromosome test conducted by the IBA. However, after the IBA lost its Olympic recognition over governance issues, the IOC took control of Olympic boxing and cleared Khelif to compete in Paris, affirming she was born female and had a longstanding record in women’s competitions.
“The IBA, an organization I am no longer affiliated with and which is no longer recognized by the IOC, continues to make baseless accusations that are both false and offensive,” Khelif said in a statement. “This is not just about me but about the broader principles of fairness and due process in sport.”
She added that her team is considering legal action to protect her rights. “For two years, I have remained silent while my name and image were used without permission to advance political and personal agendas through misinformation. But silence is no longer an option.”
The IBA, in its statement, welcomed Khelif’s intention to pursue legal action, asserting that it would provide an opportunity to prove she should not have been allowed to compete in women’s boxing.
The IOC, which has been in a long-running dispute with the IBA, dismissed the organization’s claims as part of its ongoing campaign against the Olympic governing body.
With boxing’s future at the Olympics in question, the sport has not been included in the initial program for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. The IOC has urged national boxing federations to establish a new global governing body or risk Olympic exclusion.
A federal appeals court upheld R. Kelly’s sex trafficking and racketeering conviction Wednesday, reinforcing the 30-year prison sentence for the disgraced R&B singer. The ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected Kelly’s claims that prosecutors failed to prove he led a criminal enterprise that exploited women and underage girls for sex.
Circuit Judge Denny Chin, writing for a three-judge panel, cited “extensive evidence” demonstrating how Kelly, 58, manipulated victims, controlled their lives, and coerced them into compliance through verbal and physical abuse, threats of blackmail, and humiliation. The court found sufficient grounds for jurors to conclude that Kelly intended to instill fear in his victims to force them into submission.
Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, said she may appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the decision expands the reach of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) beyond its intended scope. “The statute was meant to target organized crime, not individual conduct,” Bonjean stated.
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn declined to comment.
Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2021 after a Brooklyn jury found him guilty of racketeering and multiple violations of the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for illegal sexual activity. The conviction became one of the most high-profile cases of the #MeToo era.
Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, rose to fame in the 1990s with hits such as *I Believe I Can Fly.* His career unraveled following decades of sexual misconduct allegations, which he denied.
The ruling comes as another high-profile music mogul, Sean “Diddy” Combs, faces sex trafficking allegations. Combs is set to stand trial in Manhattan federal court on May 5, with multiple accusers filing civil lawsuits. Combs has denied all allegations.
During Kelly’s trial, 45 government witnesses, including multiple victims, testified about his abusive control, which included forcing them to call him “Daddy,” restricting their movements, and requiring them to write “apology letters” to avoid punishment.
Kelly also appealed on the grounds that prosecutors failed to prove he knowingly exposed victims to herpes and that jurors were biased due to extensive media coverage. The court rejected those arguments.
Kelly is also serving time for a separate 2022 conviction in Chicago, where he was found guilty of child sex crimes. Though sentenced to 20 years, 19 of those years run concurrently with his Brooklyn sentence, effectively adding just one more year to his imprisonment.
In October, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Kelly’s appeal in the Chicago case.
Currently housed at Butner Federal Correctional Institution in North Carolina—a facility that once held Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernard Madoff—Kelly is eligible for release in December 2045, when he will be 78 years old.
