Author: Andrew Rogers

President Donald Trump has invited the presidents of Egypt, Turkey, and Argentina to join his newly created “Gaza Board of Peace,” a move aimed at advancing his 20-point peace plan for the region. Argentinian President Javier Milei confirmed that he had accepted the invitation, sharing the offer letter from Trump on the social media platform X. Milei described the invitation as an honour and said Argentina stands with countries confronting terrorism and promoting peace. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has also received an invitation, confirmed by Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty. The Egyptian president is reviewing the offer, which Trump…

The European Union will hold an emergency meeting of its ambassadors in Brussels on Sunday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on eight member countries over Greenland, officials confirmed. Trump’s plan ties the tariffs to his goal of acquiring Greenland, a Danish territory, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from European and American political leaders. Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, said the measures “will not help in ensuring security in the Arctic” and could embolden shared enemies. She added that Greenland and Denmark have made it clear the territory is not for sale. Kaja Kallas, vice…

A massive fire broke out late Saturday at a multistory shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, killing at least three people and injuring around a dozen others, authorities said. The blaze engulfed Gul Plaza shortly after 10 p.m. local time. Firefighters and rescue workers rushed to the scene as flames spread quickly through dozens of shops. Most shop owners had already closed their stores or left the mall when the fire began. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and police said an investigation would start once the blaze is fully under control. Many buildings in Karachi lack modern fire prevention…

The Syrian army continued its push into Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria on Saturday, despite calls from the United States to halt its advance. State media reported that troops captured the city of Tabqa, nearby dams, and the Freedom Dam, previously known as the Baath Dam, west of Raqaa. Kurdish authorities have not confirmed losing control of these strategic locations, and it remains unclear if fighting continues in some areas. For days, Syrian forces gathered near villages west of the Euphrates River and demanded that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) redeploy across the river. Skirmishes have occurred over control…

A Taiwanese reporter was detained Saturday over allegations of bribing military officers to leak information to individuals from mainland China. Authorities say the case highlights growing concerns about foreign infiltration amid heightened tensions with Beijing. Taiwan’s Qiaotou District Prosecutors’ Office said a district court ordered the detention of the journalist, surnamed Lin, along with five current and former military officers. Local media identified the reporter as Lin Chen-you of CTi TV. The network said it was unaware of case details but called for a fair judicial process, adding, “God bless Taiwan.” Allegations against journalists are rare in Taiwan, which regularly…

Northeast Ohio cities are facing a rock salt shortage during the peak of winter, forcing crews to focus on main roads and get creative with limited supplies. Cleveland Heights and University Heights are among the communities struggling to keep roads safe amid heavy snowfall. Salt storage facilities that normally hold hundreds of tons are nearly empty. Plow drivers and city officials say high demand, supply chain issues, and production delays are making it difficult to replenish stocks. Dennis Pitts, a plow driver for University Heights for 21 years, explained the approach: “We do sensible salting, which is the main streets,…

Abigail Davis Spanberger made history Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor and the state’s first female leader. A former Democratic member of Congress and CIA operative, Spanberger took office at the state Capitol in Richmond, where suffragists once rallied for the right to vote. “We will not agree on everything,” Spanberger said during her inauguration. “But we do not have to see eye-to-eye on every issue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder on others.” Spanberger, 46, won last year’s election by 15 points. Her campaign focused on rising consumer costs, job insecurity, and limited access to health care, which she blamed on policies in…

Lawmakers in Washington state are reviewing a new bill that would place limits on how artificial intelligence is used in public schools. The proposal aims to protect students from harmful or unfair decisions made by automated systems without human oversight. The bill, known as Senate Bill 5956, focuses on regulating what are called automated decision systems. These systems include software that uses data, predictions, or classifications to guide decisions. Lawmakers say these tools are becoming more common in schools, often without clear rules. The bill sets out six main restrictions. One key rule would stop schools from using artificial intelligence…

A proposed bill in Maryland is causing sharp debate across the state. The measure, called the Maryland ICE Breaker Act, could change how some former federal immigration officers move into local or state law enforcement jobs. Supporters say the bill protects community trust. Critics say it targets officers for political reasons and could hurt public safety. The bill focuses on federal immigration agents hired during President Donald Trump’s second term. Under the proposal, those agents would not be allowed to later join Maryland police departments or sheriff offices. The restriction would apply even if the officers meet all local hiring…

Preliminary traffic data for 2025 shows a hopeful sign for road safety across North Dakota. Early numbers suggest the state recorded fewer traffic deaths than the year before. If the trend holds, it would mark another year of progress in reducing fatal crashes. The early count for 2025 shows 85 traffic fatalities statewide. This would be lower than the 89 deaths recorded in 2024. It would also continue a downward trend seen since new traffic safety laws took effect. In 2023, North Dakota passed a primary seatbelt law. This law allows officers to stop drivers solely for not wearing a…