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Russia Releases Imprisoned American Marc Fogel in What U.S. Calls a Step Toward Ending Ukraine War

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Russia has released American history teacher Marc Fogel, who had been deemed wrongfully detained, in what the White House described as a significant diplomatic breakthrough that could aid negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. 

Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Donald Trump, accompanied Fogel back to the United States, where he was greeted by Trump at the White House. 

“I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now,” Fogel said, draped in an American flag as he stood alongside the president. 

Fogel, a Pennsylvania native, was expected to reunite with his family later Tuesday. He expressed gratitude to Trump, who hinted at another American’s imminent release but declined to disclose further details. 

The White House did not confirm whether Trump had direct discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Fogel’s release, though Fogel described Putin as “very generous and statesmanlike” in granting him a pardon. 

Asked about the terms of the agreement, Trump described it as “very fair” but did not specify what the U.S. offered in exchange for Fogel’s freedom. National security adviser Michael Waltz confirmed that the U.S. and Russia negotiated an exchange but did not disclose specifics. 

Fogel was arrested in August 2021 and sentenced to 14 years in prison for carrying medically prescribed marijuana. The Biden administration had officially classified him as wrongfully detained in December of that year. 

Trump, who has pledged to broker a resolution to the war in Ukraine, suggested that Fogel’s release could be part of a broader shift in U.S.-Russia relations. 

“We were treated very nicely by Russia, actually,” Trump told reporters. “I hope that’s the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war.” 

The president announced that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would travel to Kyiv for discussions with Ukrainian leaders, a move seen as an initial step toward potential peace talks. Additionally, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, are scheduled to attend the Munich Security Conference later this week, where Ukraine will be a key topic. 

Kellogg told The Associated Press that the delegation would discuss Trump’s vision for resolving the war with European allies. “We will deliver our expectation to the allies,” Kellogg said. “When we come back from Munich, we want to deliver to the president the options, so when he does get directly involved in the peace process, he knows what it will look like.” 

While Fogel’s release marks a major development, several other Americans remain imprisoned in Russia. Notably, U.S.-Russian dual national Ksenia Khavana, convicted of treason for donating $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine, is serving a 12-year sentence. 

Additionally, American Robert Gilman was sentenced to more than seven years for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers, while Stephen Hubbard remains imprisoned after a closed trial for allegedly fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. 

Last August, a major prisoner swap between the U.S., Russia, and other nations led to the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American corporate security executive Paul Whelan. However, Fogel and several others were not included in that exchange. 

Elon Musk Defends DOGE’s Government Overhaul at White House Amid Transparency Concerns

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Billionaire Elon Musk appeared at the White House on Tuesday alongside President Donald Trump to defend his role in restructuring the federal government, responding to criticism over transparency and accountability. 

Trump praised Musk’s leadership of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and signed an executive order expanding Musk’s authority over federal workforce reductions. The order grants DOGE significant influence, requiring its approval for nearly all new hiring. 

Musk, wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap, described DOGE’s reforms as common sense and dismissed concerns about the scale of government cuts. “The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what they’re going to get,” Musk told reporters. 

The executive order follows growing concerns over government oversight, particularly after the abrupt firing of the inspector general for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The dismissal came one day after the inspector general reported challenges in tracking $8.2 billion in humanitarian aid funds, following DOGE-led restructuring of the agency. 

Musk claimed DOGE’s actions were fully documented on its website and X, the social media platform he owns. However, reports indicate the website provides no detailed information on program cuts, and DOGE’s X posts lack specifics on budget reductions. 

Musk’s increasing influence in government has also raised ethical concerns, given his companies’ multi-billion-dollar contracts with the Pentagon and intelligence agencies. Critics warn DOGE’s expanded role could give Musk access to U.S. Treasury payment systems. 

The Trump administration has been pushing for federal workforce reductions, but a previous attempt to encourage buyouts was blocked by a federal judge. In response, Trump and Musk criticized the judiciary, calling for potential action against federal judges. 

“We want to weed out the corruption,” Trump said. “And it seems hard to believe that a judge could say we don’t want you to do that.” 

Musk echoed Trump’s frustration, calling judicial opposition a “coup” against government reform efforts. 

Three Children Dead After Mother Shoots Daughters, Self in Wyoming

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The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office in Wyoming said on Tuesday evening that Tranyelle Harshman, who reportedly shot her four daughters on Monday, died in a hospital from her injuries.

Three of her daughters – one 9 years old and two aged 2 (10-month age difference), were found dead following the Monday shootings. The fourth daughter, age 7, remains hospitalized in Salt Lake City, according to family members.

The woman and one daughter survived, but their condition was unknown on Tuesday, according to a news release from the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office in Wyoming.

Three girls — one 9-year-old and two 2-year-olds (10 months apart in age) — were killed. The 32-year-old mother and a 7-year-old girl were found still alive.

The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office initially reported Monday afternoon that “multiple people” had been shot at the residence, including at least one fatality. The sheriff’s office did not immediately identify the relationship of the people involved.

The woman’s sister, Savannah Rose, told MTN News on Tuesday that her sister Tranyelle Harshman shot her daughters and then herself. She said one of the girls named Olivia is still alive and being treated at a Salt Lake City hospital where she is sedated but is responding to some touch.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help the husband and father, Cliff Harshman. It states:

Tragedy has struck, leaving us shattered and heartbroken. [Cliff harshman], a devoted husband and father of four beautiful daughters, has suffered an unimaginable loss: the passing of 3 of his precious girls. 1 still fighting in salt lake, please pray for her.

This devastating event has left Cliff and his loved ones reeling in grief, struggling to come to terms with the immense void left in their lives. The financial burden of funeral expenses, ongoing family support, and other related costs only adds to their pain.

The Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that the shooting in the small town was reported at about 1:30 p.m. when a 911 call was made from a woman reporting gunshots inside a residence and “further reported her daughters had been shot.”

The woman told the 911 dispatcher that she believed the children were dead.

The woman also told the dispatcher the locations of the girls inside the house. Two children would be located upstairs in their cribs and two children would be located downstairs in the bedroom they shared, the press release states.

The woman then told the dispatcher she could be found in her upstairs bedroom and that she was going to shoot herself.

“The dispatcher pleaded with the female caller over the phone for the female caller to remain on the line until responding suits arrived,” the press release states. “The female caller stated multiple times that she could not do that and that it was too late. Multiple attempts to keep her on the line failed and the call was disconnected.”

Sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement agencies responded to the residence on the 200 block of East Shoshone Street, and arrived within minutes.

Officers entered the residence and found two children ages 2 and 9 dead with gunshot wounds to the head, and two other children — ages 2 and 7 — also with gunshot wounds to the head but still alive.

The 32-year-old woman was found in an upstairs bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head but also still alive.

The 2-year-old who was initially found alive “succumbed a very short time later due to the extent of her injuries.”

The surviving child and woman were initially taken to North Big Horn Hospital.

Copied: krtv.com

Apple Renames Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America on Maps

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Apple has renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on its maps after an order by President Donald Trump was made official by the U.S. Geographic Names Information System. 

Google previously announced it would implement the name change once the official listing was updated. In a blog post Sunday, the company said users in the United States would see the name Gulf of America, while those in Mexico would continue to see Gulf of Mexico. Other users would see both names. 

After taking office, Trump ordered the renaming of the body of water bordered by the Southern United States, Mexico, and Cuba. 

The U.S. Geographic Names Information System officially updated the name late Sunday. Microsoft has also made the change on its Bing Maps. 

The Associated Press said it will continue to refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its original name, which it has carried for 400 years, while acknowledging the updated designation as the Gulf of America.

Israel Threatens to End Gaza Ceasefire if Hamas Does Not Release Hostages by Saturday

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the ceasefire in Gaza will end, and military operations will resume if Hamas fails to release hostages by Saturday. 

Netanyahu said he had ordered Israeli forces to mobilize inside and around Gaza after Hamas announced it was postponing further hostage releases. He did not specify whether he was demanding the release of all 76 remaining hostages or just the three expected to be freed on Saturday. However, Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev later stated that “everyone” must be released. 

Hamas responded, saying it remains committed to the ceasefire and accused Israel of violating the agreement, including blocking humanitarian aid—claims Israel denies. 

The standoff follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement urging Israel to cancel the ceasefire unless Hamas releases all hostages by Saturday. Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s demand, stating, “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense fighting until Hamas is defeated.” 

Israeli officials have issued conflicting statements regarding the ultimatum, with one source telling Haaretz that releasing the next three hostages as planned on Saturday could keep the ceasefire intact. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it has raised readiness levels in Gaza’s Southern Command and reinforced troops, including reservists. 

Meanwhile, Hamas rejected Trump’s proposal to permanently relocate Gaza’s 2 million residents and rebuild the territory as the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The group called the remarks “racist” and an “attempt at ethnic cleansing.” The Palestinian Authority and Arab nations have also opposed the plan, while the UN warned forced displacement would violate international law. 

Despite the rising tensions, Hamas official Basem Naim said mediators from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt could still salvage the ceasefire. “We don’t want this deal to collapse,” Naim said, adding that Hamas was prepared to release more hostages if issues with Israel were resolved. 

Under the current ceasefire, which began on January 19, Hamas has freed 16 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals. In exchange, Israel has released Palestinian prisoners, withdrawn troops from densely populated areas, and allowed aid deliveries. The agreement is expected to last six weeks, with further hostage-prisoner exchanges planned. 

The war began after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages taken. More than 48,210 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s population, severely damaged infrastructure, and led to shortages of essential supplies. 

With the ceasefire in jeopardy, the situation remains volatile as both sides prepare for possible renewed fighting.

South Africa’s Land Expropriation Law Faces Legal Challenge Amid U.S. Sanctions

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South Africa’s second-largest political party has filed a legal challenge against a land expropriation law that prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to cut all funding to the country, calling the law unconstitutional. 

The Democratic Alliance (DA), a key member of South Africa’s governing coalition, announced the legal action Monday, increasing pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa. Trump issued an executive order Friday halting U.S. aid to South Africa, citing concerns over the law, which he described as a violation of property rights. 

The legislation allows the South African government to expropriate land in the public interest, including without compensation in cases where negotiations for a settlement have failed. The government maintains that the law targets unused land and does not permit arbitrary seizures. 

Authorities have dismissed Trump’s claims that the law specifically targets land owned by white Afrikaner farmers, who are descended from European settlers. 

The DA, South Africa’s most prominent white-led political party with a multi-racial support base, has long opposed the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Despite joining a 10-party governing coalition last year, the DA argues the law grants excessive power to the government. 

“We reject this Expropriation Act because we believe no democratic government should have such sweeping powers to seize property without compensation,” the DA said, calling for the law to be nullified. 

The party also reminded the ANC that it failed to secure a majority in last year’s election and must now share power for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994. 

The law has sparked concerns among Afrikaner groups, who own a significant share of South Africa’s commercial farms. Some have traveled to the U.S. in recent years to lobby against the legislation while it was still under consideration. 

Trump’s executive order halting U.S. assistance to South Africa extends beyond the land law. It also cites the country’s foreign policy stance, including its accusation of genocide against Israel at the United Nations’ top court and its ties with Russia, China, and Iran. The order further criticizes South Africa’s alleged support for Palestinian militant group Hamas. 

Trump also claimed that South Africa was allowing violent attacks on white farmers, a claim frequently amplified by conservative commentators, including his adviser Elon Musk. However, government officials and experts have refuted these allegations, stating that while some white farmers have been killed, such attacks form a small fraction of the country’s overall violent crime rates. 

Despite Trump’s claims of land confiscation, the country’s main farmers’ union has confirmed that no land has been seized under the new law. 

The legal battle over land expropriation is expected to be closely watched, with significant implications for South Africa’s economy and international relations. 

Ebola Cases in Uganda Rise to 9 as 265 People Remain Under Quarantine

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The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Uganda has risen to nine, while 265 people remain under quarantine as health officials work to contain the outbreak, authorities said Tuesday. 

The cases include the first victim, a male nurse who died on Jan. 30, a day before the outbreak was officially declared. He remains the only reported fatality. 

Eight patients are receiving medical care and are in stable condition, according to a statement from Uganda’s Health Ministry. Seven have been admitted to the main public hospital in Kampala, the capital, while one is receiving treatment in the eastern district of Mbale. Officials said the situation is under control amid heightened surveillance. 

The nurse who died initially sought treatment in Kampala before traveling to Mbale, where he was admitted to a public hospital. Authorities said he had also consulted a traditional healer. His relatives are among those currently receiving treatment for Ebola. 

Kampala, home to nearly 4 million people, remains a key focus for health officials investigating the source of the outbreak. 

Health experts are prioritizing contact tracing to prevent further spread of the Ebola virus, which causes viral hemorrhagic fever. 

There are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola, which is currently circulating in Uganda. However, health authorities have initiated a clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of a candidate vaccine as part of containment efforts. 

Uganda’s last Ebola outbreak, which began in September 2022, resulted in 55 deaths before being declared over four months later. 

Ebola is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. 

Scientists believe initial infections in outbreaks originate from human contact with infected animals or consumption of raw meat from such animals. The Ebola virus was first identified in 1976 during simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, near the Ebola River, after which the disease was named. 

US Cyber Agency Places Election Security Staff on Leave, Raising Concerns

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Seventeen employees at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), responsible for securing elections, have been placed on administrative leave, potentially disrupting support for state and local election offices ahead of the 2024 election. 

Among those placed on leave are 10 regional election security specialists hired to expand field staff and provide expertise on cybersecurity and physical threats. These specialists had been working with election officials nationwide to assess risks, conduct training, and strengthen election security. 

A source familiar with the situation, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said the internal review is examining efforts to counter foreign interference in U.S. elections—tasks that had reportedly been reassigned to other CISA personnel. 

The affected employees include former state and local election officials who had spent the past year building relationships with election offices in all 50 states and more than 8,000 local jurisdictions. Their responsibilities included coordinating with election officials, attending security briefings, and providing guidance on cybersecurity best practices. 

CISA and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. 

Bipartisan state election officials have defended CISA’s role in helping secure U.S. elections against cyber threats. 

Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, emphasized the agency’s support for local election offices, particularly county clerks. 

“The most value we’ve got from CISA has been the people on the ground in our state who build direct relationships with county clerks,” Adams said in an interview last month. 

AP

Holocaust Survivor and Oldest Israeli Hostage Killed by Hamas as Ceasefire Deal Hangs in the Balance 

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Israel has confirmed that Shlomo Mansour, an 86-year-old Holocaust survivor and the oldest Israeli hostage, was killed by Hamas, raising concerns over the fate of the remaining captives and the stability of the ceasefire deal. 

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Tuesday that intelligence gathered in recent months led them to confirm Mansour’s death. Authorities believe he may have been killed during the October 7 Hamas attack on Kibbutz Kissufim. His body is still being held in Gaza. 

Mansour was among the hostages set for release under the ceasefire agreement, but the deal now remains uncertain. 

His granddaughter, Safir, had previously spoken about his ordeal, revealing that he survived a massacre in Iraq as a child before enduring Hamas’ attack on October 7. According to her, terrorists stormed his home, physically assaulted him, and abducted him in his own car without his hearing aids. 

His wife, Mazal Mansour, with whom he shared a 60-year marriage and five children, managed to escape the attack. 

Kibbutz Kissufim released a statement mourning Mansour, expressing their grief and calling for the return of all hostages. 

“With heavy hearts, we, the members of the kibbutz, received the news this morning about the murder of our dear friend, Shlomo Mansour… kidnapped from his home during the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023.” 

The community urged Israeli and world leaders to take decisive action to secure the return of all hostages, both the living and the deceased, to prevent similar tragedies. 

According to the Israel Defense Forces, 76 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, with 36 confirmed dead. 

United States President Donald Trump issued a warning, stating that “all hell is going to break out” if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages by midday on Saturday. 

“I don’t want a trickle. Not three and then two. I want them all,” Trump said. 

His administration has expressed frustration after seeing recently released hostages appear emaciated and frail. Trump compared their condition to that of Holocaust survivors and suggested that the hostage deal should be canceled if Hamas fails to comply. 

So far, 21 hostages have been freed in exchange for over 730 prisoners. Hamas had previously agreed to release 33 hostages in return for nearly 2,000 detainees. However, the group has since suspended further releases, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire by delaying humanitarian aid—an allegation Israel denies. 

The situation has grown increasingly dire, with particular concerns over the youngest hostage, nine-month-old Kfir Bibas. Kidnapped with his family from Kibbutz Nir Oz, Kfir has spent most of his life in captivity under Hamas. 

As negotiations remain uncertain, global pressure is mounting on all parties to ensure the safe return of the remaining hostages and prevent further escalation.

Venezuela Resumes Deportation Flights from U.S., Signaling Possible Diplomatic Shift

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Two Venezuelan planes carrying approximately 190 deported migrants arrived in Caracas from the United States on Monday, marking a significant shift in relations between the two nations and a policy victory for President Donald Trump as he pushes for stricter immigration enforcement. 

Deportation flights to Venezuela had been largely suspended for years, except for a brief period in October 2023 under the Biden administration. Since 2021, Venezuelans have been among the largest groups crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, making their country’s longstanding refusal to accept deportees a major challenge for U.S. immigration policy. 

The breakthrough came after a visit to Caracas earlier this month by Trump envoy Richard Grennell, who facilitated negotiations with the Venezuelan government. 

“Flights of Illegal Aliens to Venezuela Resume,” the White House announced Monday in a post on the social platform X, stating that Grennell oversaw the process. 

Venezuelan state television triumphantly covered the arrival of the Conviasa flights from Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army base in El Paso, Texas. President Nicolás Maduro framed the event as a diplomatic success, stating, “This is the world we want, a world of peace, understanding, dialogue, and cooperation.” 

In an official statement, the Venezuelan government criticized what it called an “ill-intentioned” and “false” narrative surrounding the presence of Tren de Aragua gang members in the U.S. It emphasized that most Venezuelan migrants are hardworking and law-abiding, accusing U.S. officials of unfairly stigmatizing them. 

Monday’s flights followed the first transfers of migrants to a U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and agreements reached by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio with El Salvador and Guatemala to accept non-citizen deportees. 

However, legal challenges have already emerged. On Sunday, a federal judge in New Mexico preemptively blocked the transfer of three Venezuelan men to Guantanamo Bay. Lawyers for the men argued that they had been unfairly targeted due to alleged—and, they claim, false—connections to the Tren de Aragua gang. 

Following Grennell’s visit, Trump announced that the Maduro government had agreed to accept “all Venezuelan illegal aliens who were encamped in the U.S., including gang members of Tren de Aragua,” and that Venezuela would cover the cost of their transportation. Additionally, six Americans detained in Venezuela were released as part of the negotiations. 

In its Monday statement, the Venezuelan government did not comment on whether additional deportation flights would take place.

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