We examine the SAVE America Act.

Gov. JB Pritzker invested capital, both political and the more traditional kind, in the Senate race of his lieutenant governor, Juliana Stratton. Her victory could help them both.

Democratic voters put Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on a path to the Senate, while the pro-Israel lobby notched its first major victories of the year but also faced a tough defeat.

In the 1980s, Charles Bennett and Gilles Brassard created a new kind of encryption that would be impregnable.

After years of criticism and financial risk, Palantir, Anthropic and small start-ups are generating rewards from their investments in defense tech.

This week we start with Josephs series of articles about the DOGE depositions. He watched hours and hours of them, then a judge ordered them removed from YouTube. But, theyve already been archived all over the web. After the break, Jason tells us about the AI data labelers who are fighting back. In the subscribers-only section, Jason breaks down whats wrong with all the AI job loss research at the moment.Listen to the weekly podcast onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orYouTube. Become a paid subscriber for access to this episode's bonus content and to power our journalism.If you become a paid subscriber, check your inbox for an email from our podcast host Transistor for a link to the subscribers-only version! You can also add that subscribers feed to your podcast app of choice and never miss an episode that way. The email should also contain the subscribers-only unlisted YouTube link for the extended video version too. It will also be in the show notes in your podcast player. 0:00 - Intro 0:51 -Google Street View's Unmappable City3:40 -I Watched 6 Hours of DOGE Bro Testimony. Here's What They Had to Say For Themselves13:24 -DOGE Deposition Videos Taken Down After Judge Order and Widespread Mockery18:58 -The Removed DOGE Deposition Videos Have Already Been Backed Up Across the Internet28:32 -'AI Is African Intelligence': The Workers Who Train AI Are Fighting BackSUB'S STORY -AI Job Loss Research Ignores How AI Is Utterly Destroying the Internet

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10382-1Publisher Correction: Atlas-guided discovery of transcription factors for T cell programming

Paul DePodesta is back in baseball -- and he plans to fix the Colorado Rockies.

Let's break down the main free agency signings, latest buzz on moves and biggest remaining questions for every team.

Thunder guard Alex Caruso was called for goaltending and a technical foul for an illegal defensive move after he swatted away a layup attempt with his shoe.

Sporting became only the fifth club in Champions League history to win a two-legged knockout tie despite losing the first leg by three goals or more.

Which new faces in the league will make the biggest impact for each school?

Selling marijuana is strictly prohibited in the military. What that means for soldiers who own businesses is unclear.

Three editors in Washington discuss their approach to coverage of politicians and witnesses who sometimes seem to be performing for the cameras.

This administration has given the company, staffed by the presidents allies, multimillion-dollar contracts it was guaranteed to win.

Theories abound as to who pulled off the largest art heist in U.S. history. In a new book, the former F.B.I. agent who handled the case dismisses many of them.

After he left jail in 2009, Mr. Epstein hired a host of people to make him look better on Google, Wikipedia and many other places on the web.

The post Sabrina Carpenter Sends Especially Hot Concertgoer To Fuzzy Pink Electric Chair appeared first on The Onion.

THE HEAVENSExpressing frustration with the sky-rise apartment complex going up right outside His celestial home, God Almighty, Supreme Leader of the Universe, confirmed Wednesday that He was angry about the new construction blocking His view of creation. I worked hard to have a Heavenly Kingdom from which I can gaze down upon all the beasts of the earth and the birds of the sky, but now Ive got this giant orange crane obstructing almost everything, said the Lord, adding that when He sat upon His holy throne, the entire Amazon Rainforest was obscured behind the scaffolding that had been erected for what is estimated to be paradises largest building project in nearly 6,000 years. And by the time they finish putting up these bullshit condos, it wont just be the breathtaking splendor I cant see anymore. I wont even have a view of places like Antarctica, the deserts, the oceans dead zones, or Wichita, KS. Itll just be these dumb luxury apartments. Not to mention the cherubim and seraphim cant sleep with all the endless drilling and jackhammering going on up here. God went on to state that the massive new multiunit dwellings would bring down property values on every gold-paved street in heaven.The post God Angry After New Construction Blocks View Of Creation appeared first on The Onion.

While leading OpenAI, Sam Altman has weathered leaked internal memos, an attempt to oust him as CEO, and widespread skepticism about artificial intelligences role in society. The Onion sat down with the entrepreneur to hear his vision for the technologys future.The Onion: Good morning, Sam. How are you doing today?Altman: Certainly! Here are some possible moods that an interviewee might be in on a typical day: 1) Glad Happy to be here, 2) Tired Did not get enough sleep last night, 3) Excited Looking forward to the interview. Is there anything else I can help you with?You recently struck a deal with the U.S. Defense Department to deploy AI models on their classified network. What kind of ethical safeguards have been implemented?They will not be allowed to use the Studio Ghibli filter on prisoners of war.AI is advancing very quickly. How can you keep it from getting out of control?Thats more of a two-years-ago question.What do you tell people concerned about generative AIs heavy use of natural resources?Quit breathing my data centers air.And what about those worried their job will be displaced by AI?Whether by a computer or a Chinese person, your job was always going to be displaced.What purpose will humans serve once AI dominates every aspect of our lives?Humans have and always will be important for watching ads.You had a baby last year. Does that influence your thinking at all?Of course. It is another source of blood for the computer.What informs your personal sense of morality?Previous things Ive gotten away with.Why did you decide to devote your life to AI?I just saw so much suffering in the world that needed to be automated.In a recent interview, you said AI would one day be better at running a major company than you are. What would you do with your life, if that ever happened?SimpleId just go live out in the country somewhere, plagiarizing the land.Where do you see yourself in five years?Trapped in a simulacrum of my own making, howling to a god who does not exist, robbed of deaths sweet release by my own hubristic decision to permanently transcribe my consciousness into the cloud.Do you have any concluding thoughts on AI with which youd like to leave us?Maximum conversation length exceeded.The post The Onions Exclusive Interview With Sam Altman appeared first on The Onion.

MILWAUKEEDashing his hopes of taking on the new opportunity, local job applicant Mark McCarthy was reportedly informed by email Wednesday that the role of pig boy had already been filled. While we appreciate your obvious skill at eating up slop and rolling around in the mud on your fat, pink belly, we have moved forward with another candidate, the message read in part, noting that the company would be sure to keep McCarthys resume on file in the event it again needed someone to stick his hoggish snout in the dirt and snort around for truffles while being pelted with crab apples. Unfortunately, the job market is very competitive at the moment, and we received applications from over 100 oinking, garbage-munching porksters. We wish you the best of luck in your continued effort to jostle alongside a dozen otherporcine losers to eat from a trough while a higher-up shouts, Sooey, sooey!' Reached for comment, McCarthy acknowledged that he would probably need to spend a few years volunteering as a pig boy before he would be able to receive payment for the role.The post Job Applicant Informed Role Of Pig Boy Has Been Filled appeared first on The Onion.

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Students queue for antibiotics outside a building at the University of Kent, following an outbreak of meningitis, in Canterbury, Kent, England, Monday March 16, 2026. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)2026-03-18T13:17:36Z LONDON (AP) A meningitis outbreak in southeast England has led to the deaths of a university student and a pupil from a nearby school, prompting public health officials to quickly roll out medical interventions.The outbreak in the county of Kent was described Wednesday as unprecedented by U.K. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, owing to the high number of cases appearing in such a short space of time. The first case was only confirmed on Friday.The number of meningitis cases rose by a further five on Tuesday to 20. Thousands of students at the University of Kent in the city of Canterbury are being offered antibiotics as well as a vaccination against the strain that has been identified as the source of the outbreak.With public health officials turning up in Kent, and with students jittery, here is what to know: Definition of meningitisMeningitis is an infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord and can be caused by either viruses or bacteria. Contracting meningitis can lead to a severe blood infection that is called meningococcal sepsis, which often manifests itself as a rash. It can be life-threatening if not treated rapidly. Meningitis can also lead to limb amputations. The most dangerous outbreaks are usually a result of bacteria. The majority of the cases in Canterbury have been confirmed as stemming from a bacterial infection. Possible super-spreader eventMeningitis is a rare disease in the U.K. around 350 a year but it can spread in tight communities, such as university dormitories. Students are seen as particularly vulnerable as the bacteria is often lying dormant in the nose or throat of individuals and can spread through coughing, kissing or sharing drinks.Experts said many of those affected in the current outbreak went to a nightclub in Canterbury from March 5-7. Doctors across the country have been told to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited Club Chemistry during those dates in addition to students at the University of Kent.This is so that anyone who has traveled home, or away from Kent, can easily access this important preventative treatment close to them, it said. What can be doneGiven the recent memory of the COVID-19 pandemic, people in and around Canterbury have started donning masks again and keeping their distance from each other.On the medical front, antibiotics are considered the most effective treatment to limit the spread.So far, more than 2,500 doses have been given, including to some of those who visited Club Chemistry. A vaccination against the meningitis B strain is also being offered. The jab only became part of the U.K.'s childhood immunization program since 2015, so most students at the University of Kent wouldnt have been vaccinated, though some may have taken it privately. The U.K. Health Security Agency, or UKHSA, said that there were enough doses of the vaccine, but pharmacies have reported that they were struggling to obtain stocks for people who want to pay privately. The outlookThe number of cases is expected to rise because the incubation period for the infection can be up to 14 days. Scientists have said that its too soon to assess whether the strain involved in Kent is more virulent than any others. Streeting said that he wasnt concerned that the outbreak could spread to other parts of the country as students leave Canterbury.This is not currently a national incident, he said.

Four dachshunds wait in a basket of a breeder at a dog show in Dortmund, Germany, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, file)2026-03-18T13:41:55Z NEW YORK (AP) Americans still dig French bulldogs, retrievers and German shepherds. But dachshunds are increasingly hot dogs.For the first time in over two decades, the sausage-shaped hounds were among the top five most prevalent dog breeds, according to American Kennel Club rankings released Wednesday. The standings cover 202 breeds and are based on puppies and older purebreds that were added last year to the AKCs registry, the nations oldest. Registration is voluntary. Its not a complete picture of the U.S. canine population, which the American Veterinary Medical Association estimates at over 87 million. The kennel clubs rankings dont include mixed-breed dogs or trendy hybrids such as goldendoodles and Pomskies. Still, the annual list can be a source of pride, or concern, among purebred fans. Its also a wellspring of criticism from animal rights groups such as PETA, which is suing the AKC over the physical ideals it promulgates for Frenchies, dachshunds and other breeds. Heres a look at the standings: The top 10: French bulldogs. The leaders since 2023, but for how much longer? The AKCs registry added about 54,000 Frenchies last year, half as many as in 2023. The breed is known for being self-assured, apartment-friendly and endlessly funny, but its also at the center of increasing public conversation about the health of flat-faced dogs, and even some fans lament the Frenchie craze. AKC spokesperson Brandi Hunter Munden offers other explanations for the falloff: Breed booms come and go, particularly in the social media era, and some breeders may choose not to engage with the club. Labrador retrievers. They set a record by owning the top spot for 31 years. Could they reclaim it? Stay tuned. Golden retrievers. Everyone loves them. German shepherds. Everyone respects them. Dachshunds. Everyone on social media wants to see them in a Halloween costume. More on dachshunds below. Poodles. Holding their own, though not what they were No. 1 in the pre-doodle 1960s and 1970s. Beagles. The only breed to make the top 10 for every decade since the AKC was founded in 1884. They were No. 1 in the late 1950s. Rottweilers. Hovering in the top 10 for almost 15 years. German shorthaired pointers. Theyve made big gains in the last quarter-century. Bulldogs. Easing off after hitting No. 4 a decade ago.Over the years: 25 years ago: Yorkshire terriers were No. 6, and Frenchies were No. 64. 50 years ago: Saint Bernards were the seventh most prevalent breed. Last year, they were 63rd. 100 years ago: In the 1920s, the top 10 included three breeds that are still there today: German shepherds, beagles and bulldogs.The lowdown on dachshunds The pluses: Theyre amusing to look at. Theyre also very expressive dogs they let you know what theyre thinking, said Trudy Kawami, who has owned, bred, done dog sports and occasionally hunted rats with dachshunds since the 1980s. They make you laugh every day. The caveats: Research has found the short-legged, long-backed breed has an elevated risk of a spinal disease. Originally bred to roust badgers, the driven, determined dogs can be very vocal, and if they cant exercise their instincts through hunting or sports, they might find unsuitable substitutes. The misconceptions: The proliferation of cute images on social media now is kind of a pain because that cute little fluffy, cream-colored, long-haired dog can turn around and kill your pet gerbil really fast, Kawami said. Shes glad to see more people appreciate the quirky hounds, but she rues that the minute a breed becomes popularthe whole market-supply-and-demand mechanism kicks in. Up-and-coming newcomersThe AKC has added more than 50 types of dog to its roster of recognized breeds since 2000. Some have quickly become familiar faces, especially the cane corso, now the 11th most prevalent breed. Keep an eye out for the coton de tulear, which spurted from 92nd in 2024 to 79th last year. The American hairless terrier moved up from No. 125 to No. 108.Rare breedsThe rarest breeds also are relative newcomers: the grand basset griffon Vendeen, the sloughi and the Norwegian lundehund. All three joined the AKC pack in the last 15 years. But just ahead of them is the harrier, recognized since 1885. Pushback from PETAPETA contends that breeding lessens needy dogs chance of adoption and perpetuates unhealthy traits. The activist group filed a lawsuit last year that accuses the AKC of promoting the breeding of deformed, unhealthy dogs. The kennel club responded that its committed to canine health and called the suit frivolous.In anticipation of this years popular-breeds list, PETA produced videos in which comedian-actor-writer Carol Leifer highlights the breathing problems that can beset short-snouted dogs and implores people not to buy them. Breeders cash in on the look, and the dogs and their guardians pay for it, she says in one clip. The AKCs Hunter Munden said the rankings are intended just to satisfy public curiosity, not as an encouragement to buy any type of dog. No matter how you acquire your dog, do your research and make sure that a dog fits in your lifestyle, said the spokesperson, who has two mixed-breed dogs and a West Highland white terrier. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00612-xThe next in line.

Are you ready for another exciting season of Fantasy Women's Basketball? Andr Snellings walks you through the scoring system, roster sizes and other key details.

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An investigation by The New York Times found extensive evidence that the United Farm Workers co-founder groomed and sexually abused girls who worked in the movement.

The revered union leader who campaigned for farm workers rights has been accused by women in the movement of years of sexual assault, some involving girls.

Israeli attacks have targeted the command centers of Irans repressive, internal security forces in hopes that Iranians will overthrow their rulers. Some see that as wishful thinking.

In Washington on Thursday, President Trump is expected to press Sanae Takaichi for military help in the Strait of Hormuz. But she faces constraints on what she can offer.

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Bulldozers dig graves for victims of a Monday airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)2026-03-18T13:07:28Z ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan announced on Wednesday a pause in strikes against Afghanistan, saying the decision was made ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.In a statement, Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the pause in strikes on terrorists and their support infrastructure in Afghanistan in neighboring Afghanistan will take effect at midnight Wednesday and remain in place until midnight Monday.He said: Pakistan offers this gesture in good faith and in keeping with the Islamic norms.However, he said, in case of any cross-border attack, drone attack or any terrorist incident inside Pakistan, the operations will immediately resume with renewed intensity.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below.KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Bulldozers dug pits in a cemetery in the Afghan capital ahead of a mass funeral Wednesday for some of the victims of what officials have said was a Pakistani airstrike that hit a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul earlier this week. The strike was the deadliest in an escalating conflict between the two neighbors, now in its third week. Afghan officials have put the death toll at 408 people, with 265 wounded. The toll could not be independently verified. Pakistan rejects Afghanistans accusation that it targeted the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, insisting its strikes in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan Monday had been against military facilities. It has dismissed Afghan claims of hundreds of casualties as propaganda. In an interview with The Associated Press in Islamabad Wednesday, Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan had only targeted terrorist infrastructure.We have just gone after the Afghan Taliban regime, their military setups, their terrorist infrastructure, and all the setups which are supporting or promoting terrorists, Tarar said. The conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan has seen repeated cross-border clashes as well as airstrikes inside Afghanistan, including several in the capital, since it began in late February, despite international calls for a ceasefire. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of providing a safe haven for militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan, especially for the Pakistani Taliban. The group is separate but closely allied with the Afghan Taliban, who took over Afghanistan in 2021 in the wake of the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led troops. Kabul denies the charge.On Wednesday, light rain fell as ambulances lined up outside the cemetery and began unloading plain wooden caskets. The mass funeral was for victims who were from the province of Kabul and whose bodies had already been identified. Victims from elsewhere in Afghanistan would be transported to their home provinces for burial, authorities said.The 2,000-bed Omid hospital was hit at around 9 p.m. on Monday. It had been renamed and expanded in size roughly a year ago from a previously existing treatment facility as part of the Taliban governments efforts to stamp out a significant drug addiction problem in the country. Afghanistans vast poppy fields have been the source of much of the worlds heroin, and that, in combination with decades of conflict and widespread poverty, has fueled drug addiction that the countrys current rulers have vowed to combat.The site, near Kabuls international airport, is adjacent to a former NATO military base, Camp Phoenix, where U.S. forces used to train the Afghan National Army. It wasnt immediately clear what was now housed at the site. The strike caused an intense fire at the hospitals, with footage from local television showing rescue crews combing through the wreckage with flashlights late into Monday night as firefighters struggled to extinguish the blaze.Tarar said Pakistans strikes have been very precise and these strikes were carried out in an ammunition depot in Kabul. In the aftermath of which, we saw fumes and flames in the atmosphere in Kabul.He said the subsequent loss of life, which he did not quantify, occurred because there was ammunition, there were technical equipment, there were arms there in that depot. Bodies were still being pulled from the smoldering remains of the hospital on Tuesday morning.Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the strike, accusing Pakistan of targeting hospitals and civilian sites to perpetrate horrors. He said those killed were innocent civilians and addicts. The fighting, the most severe between the two neighbors, began in late February after Afghanistan launched cross-border attacks in response to Pakistani airstrikes. The clashes disrupted a ceasefire brokered by Qatar in October, after earlier fighting killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants.Pakistan has declared its in open war with Afghanistan last month. The conflict has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, still have a presence and have been trying to resurface.___Ahmed reported from Islamabad. Associated Press writer Elena Becatoros contributed from Athens, Greece

President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2026-03-18T11:52:25Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump is set to pay his respects on Wednesday at a Delaware military base when the remains of six U.S. service members killed in the crash of a refueling aircraft are returned to their families.It will be the second time since launching the war on Iran on Feb. 28 that the Republican president will attend the solemn military ritual known as a dignified transfer, which he once described as the toughest thing he has had to do as commander in chief.All six crew members of a KC-135 Air Force refueling aircraft were killed last week in a plane crash over friendly territory in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. They were from Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Washington state. The crash brought the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members. About 200 U.S. service members have been injured, including 10 severely, the Pentagon has said. Trump last traveled to Dover Air Force Base on March 7 for the dignified transfer of six U.S. service members who were killed by a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait. He saluted as flag-draped transfer cases containing the remains of the fallen service members were carried from military aircraft to vehicles waiting to take them to the bases mortuary facility to prepare them for their final resting place. President Donald Trump salutes as an Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case with the remains of Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, who was killed in a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran, during a casualty return, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File) President Donald Trump salutes as an Army carry team moves a flag-draped transfer case with the remains of Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, who was killed in a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran, during a casualty return, March 7, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Its the bad part of war, he told reporters afterward. Asked then if he worried about having to make multiple trips to the base for additional dignified transfers as the war continued, he said, Im sure. I hate to do it, but its a part of war, isnt it? U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, said that the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in friendly airspace over Iraq but that the loss of the aircraft during a combat mission was not due to hostile or friendly fire. The circumstances were under investigation. The other plane landed safely. The crash killed three people assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida: Maj. John A. Alex Klinner, 33, who served in Birmingham, Alabama; Capt. Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky.The three others were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio: Capt. Seth Koval, 38, a resident of Stoutsville, Ohio, who was from Mooresville, Indiana; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, who lived in Columbus; and Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus. DARLENE SUPERVILLE Superville covers the White House for The Associated Press, with a special emphasis on first ladies and first families. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron shake hands ahead of a bilateral meeting at Chequers, near Aylesbury, England, Jan. 9, 2025. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP, File)2026-03-18T14:06:09Z PARIS (AP) Weve long had your back, now its our turn. That is how the famously transactional U.S. President Donald Trump is framing his demands that allies help him with the Iran war. He wants to call in IOUs for decades of U.S. security guarantees.The string of refusals indicates his stock of European goodwill is low. He has put allies through the wringer since returning to the White House, bullying them over tariffs, Greenland and other issues, and disparaging the sacrifices their soldiers made alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Now hes demanding not just requesting that they send warships to help the U.S. unblock the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the worlds traded oil passes essentially mop up behind the conflagration that he and Israel ignited in the Middle East.The reply has been a global raspberry. Thats how a veteran French defense analyst, Franois Heisbourg, described allied responses.No close ally has come forward with immediate help. Britain is flat-out refusing to be drawn into the war. France says the fighting would have to die down first. Others are non-committal. China, which is not an ally but was also asked to help, is ignoring Trumps call.This is not Europes war. We didnt start the war. We were not consulted, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Tuesday. Trumps frustration with the Rolls-Royce of alliesTrump has singled out the refusal from the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer cultivated ties with Trump and reached an early trade deal with the administration, but is now among allies who refuse to join a regional war with no clear endgame.The U.K. was sort of considered the Rolls-Royce of allies, Trump said Monday, adding that hed asked for British minesweeping ships.I was not happy with the U.K, Trump said. They should be involved enthusiastically. Weve been protecting these countries for years.Starmer said Britain will not be drawn into the wider war and that British troops require the backing of international law and a proper thought-through plan suggesting those were not in place. He initially refused to let U.S. bombers attack Iran from British bases before accepting their use for strikes on Irans ballistic missile program. Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe, said allies are looking at the United States in a way that they never have before. And this is bad for the United States. Having previously appeased Trump, some European leaders are starting to realize that theres no benefit or value in using flattery, he said. European leaders say its not their warGoing to war without consulting allies was in keeping with Trumps America-first outlook.My attitude is: We dont need anybody. Were the strongest nation in the world, he said Monday. But failing to get an international mandate, as the U.S. did before intervening in the 1990 Gulf War, is boomeranging.It is not our war; we did not start it, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said. We want diplomatic solutions and a swift end to the conflict. Sending more warships to the region will certainly not contribute to that. French President Emmanuel Macron envisions possible naval escorts in the Strait of Hormuz but only once fighting has died down.France didnt choose this war. Were not taking part, he said.After bruising tariff battles with Trump last year, the first months of 2026 have further strained alliances. Trumps renewed pressure for U.S. control of Greenland, including a tariff threat against eight European nations, and his false assertion that allied troops avoided front-line fighting in the Afghanistan War, upset partners in the NATO military alliance. Allies, or at least the Europeans, arent willing to be at the beck and call of a demand from Donald Trump, said Sylvie Bermann, a French former ambassador to China, the U.K. and Russia. And even in asking for a helping hand, he is doing so in a brutal manner, saying: Youre useless, were the strongest, we dont need you, but come, she said. A dangerous missionRetired naval officers say that unblocking the Strait of Hormuz with military escorts while the war rages and without Irans consent would be dangerous.France, which has rushed its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean, is working with other countries to prepare such a mission once the air war has subsided. French military spokesman Col. Guillaume Vernet said any escorting would be conditional on talks with Iran, and Macron has publicized two calls in eight days with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.That has won points with Trump.On a scale of zero to 10, Id say hes been an eight, Trump said Monday. Not perfect, but its France. We dont expect perfect.But hes fuming at other allies.We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need, Trump said Tuesday. Trump has leverage, including in UkraineAllies in Europe and Asia need oil, gas and other products from the Middle East to flow again. That gives Trump some leverage.Allies also know from experience that resisting Trump carries risks of retaliation.It really could be anything. Are the Europeans prepared for that? asked Ed Arnold, a former British army officer and now a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank.European allies need Trumps continued blessing for U.S. weaponry, intelligence, and other support for Ukraine, as well as financial pressure on Russia. The U.S. has started to chip away at some sanctions on Moscow by temporarily allowing shipments of Russian oil to ease shortages stemming from the Iran war. Allies also want him to reengage in talks to end the war.That was what kept European leaders quiet for a lot of last year in the face of the rhetoric and actions, said Amanda Sloat, a former U.S. national security adviser who now teaches at Spains IE University.It is also the thing that is making them a little bit nervous now.__Burrows reported from London. Associated Press journalists Jill Lawless in London, Lorne Cook in Brussels, Suman Naishadham in Madrid, Geir Moulson and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Simina Mistreanu in Taipei, Taiwan, and Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed. EMMA BURROWS Burrows covers security, defense and intelligence for The Associated Press in Europe. She is based in London. twitter

Fishermen pass an oil tanker in the Gulf of Venezuela off the shore of Punta Cardon, Venezuela, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, FIle)2026-03-18T14:01:08Z WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. companies will be allowed to do business with Venezuelas state-owned oil and gas company after the Treasury Department eased sanctions, with some limitations, on Wednesday as the Trump administration looks for ways to boost world oil supplies during the Iran war.The Treasury issued a broad authorization allowing Petrleos de Venezuela S.A, or PDVSA, to directly sell Venezuelan oil to U.S. companies and on global markets, a massive shift after Washington for years had largely blocked dealings with Venezuelas government and its oil sector.Separately, the White House said Trump would waive, for 60 days, Jones Act requirements for goods shipped between U.S. ports to be moved on U.S.-flagged vessels. The 1920s law, designed to protect the American shipbuilding sector, is often blamed for making gas more expensive. The moves highlight the increased pressure that the Republican administration is under to ease soaring oil prices as the United States, along with Israel, wages a war with Iran without a foreseeable end date. Global oil prices have since spiked as Iran halted traffic through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, where one-fifth of the worlds oil typically passes through from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide. The Treasurys license is designed to incentivize new investment in Venezuelas energy sector and is intended to benefit both the U.S and Venezuela, while increasing the global oil supply, a Treasury official told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke one condition of anonymity. Since the ouster and arrest of Nicols Maduro as Venezuelas president during a U.S. military operation in January, President Donald Trump has said the U.S. would effectively run Venezuela and sell its oil.The Treasury Departments license provides targeted relief from sanctions, but does not lift the penalties altogether. The license allows companies that existed before Jan. 29, 2025, to buy Venezuelan oil and engage in transactions that would normally be banned under American sanctions, reopening trade for a major oil producer to global markets. There are some limits. Payments cannot go directly to sanctioned Venezuelan entities such as PDVSA, but must be sent instead to a special U.S.-controlled account. In other words, the U.S. will allow the oil trade but will control the cash flow. Additionally, deals involving Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and some Chinese entities will not be allowed. Transactions involving Venezuelan debt or bonds will not be allowed. The license is expected to give a massive boost to Venezuelas oil-dependent economy and help encourage companies that have been apprehensive to invest. The decision is part of the Trump administrations phased-in plan to turn around Venezuela. But critics of the acting Venezuelan government argue that the move rewards Venezuelas leadership - all loyal to Maduro and the ruling party - while repression, corruption and human rights abuses continue. Many public sector workers survive on roughly $160 per month, while the average private sector employee earned about $237 last year, when the annual inflation rate soared to 475%, according to Venezuelas central bank, and sent the cost of food beyond what many can afford.Venezuela sits atop the worlds largest oil reserves and used them to power what was once Latin Americas strongest economy. But corruption, mismanagement and U.S. economic sanctions saw production steadily decline from the 3.5 million barrels per day pumped in 1999, when Maduros mentor, Hugo Chvez, took power, to less than 400,000 barrels per day in 2020. A year earlier, the Treasury Department under the first Trump administration locked Venezuela out of world oil markets when it sanctioned PDVSA as part of a policy punishing Maduros government for corrupt, anti-democratic and criminal activities. That forced the government to sell its remaining oil output at a discount about 40% below market prices to buyers such as China and in other Asian markets. Venezuela even started accepting payments in Russian rubles, bartered goods or cryptocurrency.The new license does not allow payments in gold or cryptocurrency, including the petro, which was a crypto token issued by the Venezuelan government in 2018. __Garcia Cano reported from Caracas, Venezuela. FATIMA HUSSEIN Hussein reports on the U.S. Treasury Department for The Associated Press. She covers tax policy, sanctions and any issue that relates to money. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

The Executive Office of the President registered the domain aliens.gov on Wednesday a little after 6:30 AM according to a bot that monitors federal domains. Theres no associated website just yet, but the registration comes a month after Trump said he would direct the government to release files related to aliens and UFOs to the public.Aliens and UFOsnow often called unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)have been a hot news topic over the last few years. Senator Chuck Schumer has pushed for declassification of government reports about strange lights in the sky; Blink-182 frontman Tom DeLonges To The Stars initiative released Pentagon footage of strange objects seen by Navy pilots; and Congress has held repeated hearings in an attempt to get to the bottom of the phenomenon. Interest died down somewhat last year when The Wall Street Journal reported that much of the information we now have is connected to a disinformation campaign and an elaborate Pentagon hazing ritual.But humans will always look into the sky, and the phenomenon got new attention in February when former President Barack Obama discussed aliens during an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen. Cohen asked Obama if aliens were real. Theyre real but I havent seen them and theyre not being kept [] in Area 51. Theres no underground facility. Unless theres this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the President of the United States, Obama said. The clip went viral.Obama walked this back days later in a post on Instagram: I was trying to stick with the spirit of the speed round, but since its gotten attention let me clarify. Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good theres life out there. But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances weve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!Four days later, a reporter asked Trump about the incident during a press conference on Air Force One.Well he gave classified information, hes not supposed to be doing that, Trump said.So aliens are real? the reporter asked.Well I dont know if theyre real or not, I can tell you he gave classified information, hes not supposed to be doing that. He made a big mistake, he took it out of classified information. No, I dont have an opinion on it. I never talk about it. A lot of people do. A lot of people believe it. Do you believe it, Peter? Trump said.The President can declassify anything that he wants to, the reporter said.Well maybe Ill get him out of trouble. I may get him out of trouble by declassifying.In a post on Truth Social later that day, Trump promised to do just that: Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters. GOD BLESS AMERICA!The promised declassification of government reports related to aliens follows a now familiar Trump administration pattern. Trump ordered the declassification and publication of files related to JFK and Jeffrey Epstein, two long obsessed over conspiracy-related topics. Those disclosures, and especially the Epstein files, have had knock-on effects, including the release of nude images and naming of previously unknown victims.

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