Latest news with #Jabhatal-Nusra
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
New beginning: On Syria's present and future
Until six months ago, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani was a specially designated global terrorist, with a $10 million bounty fixed on his head by the U.S. government. A native of Syria's Golan Heights and a former member of al-Qaeda in Iraq, one of the group's most brutal branches, Jolani founded Jabhat al-Nusra, the al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate, in 2012, during the early stages of the civil war. Thirteen years later, on May 14, Jolani — now known as Ahmed al-Sharaa — met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Riyadh. Mr. Trump, who earlier in the week lifted America's decades-long sanctions on Syria, praised Mr. Sharaa, saying he was 'a tough guy. Strong past... Fighter'. The meeting was a diplomatic victory for Mr. Sharaa, whose Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured Damascus in December 2024 by toppling the secular dictatorship of President Bashar al-Assad. Mr. Sharaa met Qatar's Emir in Doha in April, seeking support for his fledgling Islamist regime. He enjoys the strong backing of Türkiye. He was welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month at the Élysée Palace in Paris. And in Riyadh, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a key role in facilitating his meeting with Mr. Trump. With regional and international recognition, Ahmed al-Sharaa appears poised to shape Syria's present and future. The lifting of American sanctions opens the door for Syria to join the global economic mainstream and attract foreign investments. Mr. Sharaa has already invited American companies to invest in Syria's oil and gas. Money could flow from wealthy Arab monarchies to war-torn Syria for reconstruction and other business opportunities. But one question remains: what kind of Syria are Mr. Sharaa and his fellow Islamists planning to build? Mr. Sharaa has promised to uphold the rule of law, respect women's rights and protect religious and ethnic minorities. Yet, ever since the HTS captured power, Syria has seen instances of targeted violence against minority communities. In March, hundreds of Alawites, the sect to which ousted President Assad belongs, were killed by Islamist gunmen in the coastal Latakia region. Sectarian tensions remain high in central Syria, where targeted killings and abductions are frequently reported. In recent weeks, Syria's Druze minority has come under sustained attacks, with community leaders describing the violence as a 'genocidal campaign'. The Kurds in the northeast have called for a decentralised, democratic Syria, firmly opposing the HTS's centralised style of governance. The removal of sanctions and international recognition present a historic opportunity for Mr. Sharaa to steer Syria toward recovery and prosperity. But to that end, he must first stabilise the country internally, dismantle extremist armed groups and adopt an inclusive constitution that guarantees the rights of all citizens. If not, Syria risks following the path of Libya or Afghanistan.
Egypt Independent
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Trump announces plan to lift punishing sanctions on Syria
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia CNN — President President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he plans to lift sanctions on Syria following last year's fall of the Assad regime, saying the move will 'give them a chance at greatness.' The removal of the sanctions is a significant win for the Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who seized power after the stunning defeat of the Assad regime in December. It is likely to be seen as a blow by the Israeli government, which escalated military and territorial advancements in Syria in the wake of the Assad collapse. Trump said in remarks to a Saudi investment forum in Riyadh that he made the decision after discussing with it Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 'Syria, they've had their share of travesty, war, killing in many years. That's why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade,' he said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet with Syria's foreign minister in Turkey 'later this week,' Trump said. After decades of brutal rule, the Assad regime fell during the Biden administration in December, and Syria's new leaders have hoped Trump would consider lifting the punishing sanctions on the country. 'The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important — really an important function — nevertheless, at the time. But now it's their time to shine,' Trump said. 'So, I say, 'Good luck, Syria.' Show us something very special.' Trump expressed hope that Syria's new government 'will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country in keeping peace.' New Syrian President al-Sharaa previously founded a militant group known as Jabhat al-Nusra, or 'the Victory Front' in English, which pledged allegiance to al Qaeda. But in 2016, he broke away from the terror group, according to the US Center for Naval Analyses. Trump met with Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday for a little over half hour — the highest-level engagement to date between the new Syrian government and the Trump administration. The US has not formally reestablished diplomatic ties or recognized the new government, but sources say there has been lower-level engagement. Syria's foreign minister, Asaad Al-Shaibani, welcomed the news of the US sanctions relief. 'We see the lifting of sanctions as a new beginning on the path to reconstruction,' he posted to X. 'Thanks to the stances of our Arab brothers — foremost among them Saudi Arabia — we are opening a new chapter toward a future worthy of the Syrian people and their history.' The UN's special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, also welcomed the announcement, saying the lifting of sanctions is imperative to allow the delivery of essential services like health care and education and to revive the economy. The US move comes after the United Kingdom and European Union lifted some, but not all, of their sanctions on Syria earlier this year. On Capitol Hill, the top senators on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — Republican Jim Risch and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen — had encouraged the move before Trump's trip. Shaheen said in a statement Tuesday she is 'encouraged by the President's announcement to move expeditiously and am in touch with the State Department and NSC to make sure this long-awaited window of opportunity does not close for Syria.' Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, offered a more reserved response. 'I am very inclined to support sanctions relief for Syria under the right conditions. However, we must remember that the current leadership in Syria achieved its position through force of arms, not through the will of its people,' the South Carolina lawmaker said. Graham, who said in a press release he had just arrived in Turkey, noted he has 'been in close contact with Israel, as they are extremely concerned about the state of play in Syria.' 'During this trip, I will be discussing this matter with our allies in Turkey and will maintain extremely close coordination with our allies in Israel so that we can fully understand the implications of sanctions waivers,' he said. Syrians take to the streets to celebrate Meanwhile, social media videos showed jubilant crowds in the main square of the city of Homs. People were seen wielding Syrian and Saudi Arabian flags as the crowd chanted: 'Hail Saudi Arabia, hail Saudi Arabia! Hail Salman, hail Salman!' in apparent reference to the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Another video from the city showed large crowds gathered outside as fireworks lit up the night sky overhead. 'As a revolutionary Syrian, our ultimate goal is to rebuild our country,' said Osaid Basha, who was celebrating in Homs. He thanked the US and said Trump's announcement 'marks the first step toward recovery, and toward restoring Syria to its former state — or even better.' 'One of the key objectives of the revolution — toppling the regime — has already been achieved,' he told CNN. 'Now, the focus must be on moving the country forward.' A video from the city of Latakia showed cars and motorcycles driving down the street, honking their horns as their passengers waved Syrian flags. The country's economy and trade minister, Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar, shed tears live on air with Saudi outlet Al Arabiya, as he underscored that Syria is 'now entering a new phase.' 'Syria's revival is about to begin. We are heading toward an economic renaissance, now that the international community has reopened its doors to us,' he said tearfully, stressing that the country's new government and investors are ready. 'The Syrian people will soon enjoy an unprecedented level of relief and comfort,' he cried. Natasha Hall, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Middle East Program, told CNN that in addition to the announcement marking a win for Sharaa, it is also a win for the Saudi crown prince. '(Trump) is saying this publicly to maybe reassure others that they have the tacit approval to give Syria a better opportunity, a shot, and so the optics of that are quite a big deal,' Hall said. 'Now if that is also met with some kind of public meeting between al-Sharaa and Trump, or even a secret meeting, this means that the United States is clearly taking steps in a direction to give Syria a chance to rebuild.' Sharaa told Al Arabiya he expects the impact of the sanctions being lifted to begin as soon as the country is reinstated into SWIFT, a messaging service that connects financial institutions around the world. 'Funds will start flowing in, initially from Syrians abroad, followed by supportive countries. The wheels of the economy will start turning, and trade and investment promises will begin to materialize, as the landscape is now open for investment,' he said. The minister said the 'path is now clear' for anyone who wants to invest in Syria and that this would, in turn, provide some financial relief to the country's citizens. This story has been updated with additional details. CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to reflect that crowds celebrating the US lifting of sanctions against Syria were cheering the Saudi king. CNN's Eyad Kourdi and Mostafa Salem contributed to this report.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
5 things to know for May 14: Syria, Gaza, Immigration, Afghanistan, Flooding
A judge in Michigan struck down the state's mandatory 24-hour waiting period before an abortion on Tuesday, saying it conflicts with the 2022 voter-approved amendment that added abortion rights to the state constitution. Judge Sima Patel also overturned a regulation that required abortion providers to share a fetal development chart and information about alternatives, declaring them 'coercive and stigmatizing.' The ruling 'reaffirms that Michigan is a state where you can make your own decisions about your own body with a trusted health care provider, without political interference,' Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. President Donald Trump announced plans to lift punishing sanctions on Syria during his Middle East tour on Tuesday. The change was positive news for the Syrian government, which is led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, who seized power after defeating the Assad regime in December. 'The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important — really an important function — nevertheless, at the time. But now it's their time to shine,' Trump said. Although it hasn't formally reestablished diplomatic ties, Trump said the US is 'exploring normalizing relations' with Syria after meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh today. Before becoming Syria's unelected president, al-Sharaa founded a militant group known as Jabhat al-Nusra, which pledged allegiance to al Qaeda. But in 2016, he broke away from the terror group, according to the US Center for Naval Analyses. Israel launched an airstrike on a hospital in southern Gaza late Tuesday in hopes of killing Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar. He became the militant group's de facto leader after the Israeli military killed his brother, Yahya Sinwar, last year, and is believed to be one of the main planners of the October 7 terror attack on Israel. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that six Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded in the hospital bombing. There has been no word yet if Sinwar was among the casualties. Dr. Saleh Al Hams, the head of nursing at the hospital, said multiple airstrikes hit the yard of the facility, forcing staff to move patients to safer units inside. He also said some people were buried under the rubble and called the attack 'a catastrophe.' A coalition of 20 state attorneys general has filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration over conditions that they say tied billions of dollars in federal grants to state participation in ongoing immigration enforcement. The collective of top state prosecutors said the grants were meant to be used for maintaining roads, counterterrorism efforts and emergency preparedness, and have nothing to do with immigration. The officials also argue that Congress, not the executive branch, determines federal spending. 'President Trump doesn't have the authority to unlawfully coerce state and local governments into using their resources for federal immigration enforcement — and his latest attempt to bully them into doing so is blatantly illegal,' California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. The Trump administration terminated a form of humanitarian relief for nearly 12,000 Afghan nationals living in the US this week. The Department of Homeland Security announced that it was ending Temporary Protected Status, which applies to people who would face extreme hardship if forced to return to their homelands devastated by armed conflict or natural disasters, for Afghanistan. Yet the country is in the midst of a food crisis, one that has seen millions surviving on only one or two meals a day. And humanitarian operations have been hobbled since January, when the State Department halted all foreign assistance. The Taliban is trying to establish diplomatic ties with the US. However, since taking control in 2021, the radical Islamist group has closed secondary schools for girls, banned women from attending universities and working in most sectors, restricted women from traveling without a male chaperone, prohibited women from public spaces and has even forbidden the sound of women's voices in public. Approximately 150 students and 50 adults were safely rescued from an elementary school in rural western Maryland on Tuesday after heavy rains caused flooding in the region. First responders had to use boats to evacuate the students and staff from Westernport Elementary School. By the time help arrived, the children said the rising waters had nearly reached the second floor of the school. Homes, businesses and cars were also inundated with rising floodwaters. Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton said the town has been prone to flooding, but officials weren't expecting it to occur on Tuesday. 'It just seemed to happen all at once,' she told the AP. 'My heart is breaking.' MLB makes historic decisionPete Rose and 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson, who were kicked out of baseball for gambling on the game, were among more than a dozen other players who have been officially removed from the league's permanently ineligible list. 'Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,' MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. How big is women's soccer?Very big and it's getting bigger! The FIFA Women's World Cup plans to expand from 32 to 48 teams for the 2031 edition of the tournament. The event will also be extended by one week to accommodate the number of teams and a longer schedule. Eggs-citing update at the grocery storeEgg prices fell 12.7% last month, the biggest monthly decline since 1984, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The USDA said consumer prices began to drop as demand for eggs declined and avian flu cases decreased. That said, eggs still cost nearly 50% more last month than they did a year ago. TGI Fridays gives itself a makeoverThe casual dining restaurant is attempting a comeback by revamping its menu with better-quality food and more visually appealing drinks. Some of its new offerings include mozzarella sticks with Frank's RedHot Buffalo, garlic parmesan and whiskey-glaze options, a Southwestern-inspired cheeseburger and modernized cocktails known as 'Power Pours.' Citizens of Oz: Here's some wickedly wonderful newsNBC plans to broadcast a 'Wicked' special this fall that will feature stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande performing live songs from the first movie 'and maybe a little bit from the second one as well.' Other 'Wicked' cast members and surprise guests are also expected to appear. $2.7 billionThat's how much the Trump administration cut from research funding at the National Institutes of Health in the first three months of this year, a Senate committee report by minority staff said. 'News of the Qatari government gifting Donald Trump a $400 million private jet to use as Air Force One is so corrupt that even [Russian President Vladimir] Putin would give a double take. This is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat.' — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, announcing that he was placing a hold on all of the Justice Department's political nominees until he receives answers about the proposed transaction. Check your local forecast here>>> Unlucky geography?Three cars have crashed into the same Dallas townhouse complex over the past two years. Residents say they feel like sitting ducks.
CNN
14-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
5 things to know for May 14: Syria, Gaza, Immigration, Afghanistan, Flooding
A judge in Michigan struck down the state's mandatory 24-hour waiting period before an abortion on Tuesday, saying it conflicts with the 2022 voter-approved amendment that added abortion rights to the state constitution. Judge Sima Patel also overturned a regulation that required abortion providers to share a fetal development chart and information about alternatives, declaring them 'coercive and stigmatizing.' The ruling 'reaffirms that Michigan is a state where you can make your own decisions about your own body with a trusted health care provider, without political interference,' Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. Get '5 Things' in your inbox If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter. President Donald Trump announced plans to lift punishing sanctions on Syria during his Middle East tour on Tuesday. The change was positive news for the Syrian government, which is led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, who seized power after defeating the Assad regime in December. 'The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important — really an important function — nevertheless, at the time. But now it's their time to shine,' Trump said. Although it hasn't formally reestablished diplomatic ties, Trump said the US is 'exploring normalizing relations' with Syria after meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh today. Before becoming Syria's unelected president, al-Sharaa founded a militant group known as Jabhat al-Nusra, which pledged allegiance to al Qaeda. But in 2016, he broke away from the terror group, according to the US Center for Naval Analyses. Israel launched an airstrike on a hospital in southern Gaza late Tuesday in hopes of killing Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar. He became the militant group's de facto leader after the Israeli military killed his brother, Yahya Sinwar, last year, and is believed to be one of the main planners of the October 7 terror attack on Israel. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that six Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded in the hospital bombing. There has been no word yet if Sinwar was among the casualties. Dr. Saleh Al Hams, the head of nursing at the hospital, said multiple airstrikes hit the yard of the facility, forcing staff to move patients to safer units inside. He also said some people were buried under the rubble and called the attack 'a catastrophe.' A coalition of 20 state attorneys general has filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration over conditions that they say tied billions of dollars in federal grants to state participation in ongoing immigration enforcement. The collective of top state prosecutors said the grants were meant to be used for maintaining roads, counterterrorism efforts and emergency preparedness, and have nothing to do with immigration. The officials also argue that Congress, not the executive branch, determines federal spending. 'President Trump doesn't have the authority to unlawfully coerce state and local governments into using their resources for federal immigration enforcement — and his latest attempt to bully them into doing so is blatantly illegal,' California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. The Trump administration terminated a form of humanitarian relief for nearly 12,000 Afghan nationals living in the US this week. The Department of Homeland Security announced that it was ending Temporary Protected Status, which applies to people who would face extreme hardship if forced to return to their homelands devastated by armed conflict or natural disasters, for Afghanistan. Yet the country is in the midst of a food crisis, one that has seen millions surviving on only one or two meals a day. And humanitarian operations have been hobbled since January, when the State Department halted all foreign assistance. The Taliban is trying to establish diplomatic ties with the US. However, since taking control in 2021, the radical Islamist group has closed secondary schools for girls, banned women from attending universities and working in most sectors, restricted women from traveling without a male chaperone, prohibited women from public spaces and has even forbidden the sound of women's voices in public. Approximately 150 students and 50 adults were safely rescued from an elementary school in rural western Maryland on Tuesday after heavy rains caused flooding in the region. First responders had to use boats to evacuate the students and staff from Westernport Elementary School. By the time help arrived, the children said the rising waters had nearly reached the second floor of the school. Homes, businesses and cars were also inundated with rising floodwaters. Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton said the town has been prone to flooding, but officials weren't expecting it to occur on Tuesday. 'It just seemed to happen all at once,' she told the AP. 'My heart is breaking.' MLB makes historic decisionPete Rose and 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson, who were kicked out of baseball for gambling on the game, were among more than a dozen other players who have been officially removed from the league's permanently ineligible list. 'Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,' MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. How big is women's soccer?Very big and it's getting bigger! The FIFA Women's World Cup plans to expand from 32 to 48 teams for the 2031 edition of the tournament. The event will also be extended by one week to accommodate the number of teams and a longer schedule. Eggs-citing update at the grocery storeEgg prices fell 12.7% last month, the biggest monthly decline since 1984, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The USDA said consumer prices began to drop as demand for eggs declined and avian flu cases decreased. That said, eggs still cost nearly 50% more last month than they did a year ago. TGI Fridays gives itself a makeoverThe casual dining restaurant is attempting a comeback by revamping its menu with better-quality food and more visually appealing drinks. Some of its new offerings include mozzarella sticks with Frank's RedHot Buffalo, garlic parmesan and whiskey-glaze options, a Southwestern-inspired cheeseburger and modernized cocktails known as 'Power Pours.' Citizens of Oz: Here's some wickedly wonderful newsNBC plans to broadcast a 'Wicked' special this fall that will feature stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande performing live songs from the first movie 'and maybe a little bit from the second one as well.' Other 'Wicked' cast members and surprise guests are also expected to appear. $2.7 billionThat's how much the Trump administration cut from research funding at the National Institutes of Health in the first three months of this year, a Senate committee report by minority staff said. 'News of the Qatari government gifting Donald Trump a $400 million private jet to use as Air Force One is so corrupt that even [Russian President Vladimir] Putin would give a double take. This is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat.' — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, announcing that he was placing a hold on all of the Justice Department's political nominees until he receives answers about the proposed transaction. Check your local forecast here>>> Unlucky geography?Three cars have crashed into the same Dallas townhouse complex over the past two years. Residents say they feel like sitting ducks.
CNN
14-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
5 things to know for May 14: Syria, Gaza, Immigration, Afghanistan, Flooding
A judge in Michigan struck down the state's mandatory 24-hour waiting period before an abortion on Tuesday, saying it conflicts with the 2022 voter-approved amendment that added abortion rights to the state constitution. Judge Sima Patel also overturned a regulation that required abortion providers to share a fetal development chart and information about alternatives, declaring them 'coercive and stigmatizing.' The ruling 'reaffirms that Michigan is a state where you can make your own decisions about your own body with a trusted health care provider, without political interference,' Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. Get '5 Things' in your inbox If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter. President Donald Trump announced plans to lift punishing sanctions on Syria during his Middle East tour on Tuesday. The change was positive news for the Syrian government, which is led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, who seized power after defeating the Assad regime in December. 'The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important — really an important function — nevertheless, at the time. But now it's their time to shine,' Trump said. Although it hasn't formally reestablished diplomatic ties, Trump said the US is 'exploring normalizing relations' with Syria after meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh today. Before becoming Syria's unelected president, al-Sharaa founded a militant group known as Jabhat al-Nusra, which pledged allegiance to al Qaeda. But in 2016, he broke away from the terror group, according to the US Center for Naval Analyses. Israel launched an airstrike on a hospital in southern Gaza late Tuesday in hopes of killing Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar. He became the militant group's de facto leader after the Israeli military killed his brother, Yahya Sinwar, last year, and is believed to be one of the main planners of the October 7 terror attack on Israel. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that six Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded in the hospital bombing. There has been no word yet if Sinwar was among the casualties. Dr. Saleh Al Hams, the head of nursing at the hospital, said multiple airstrikes hit the yard of the facility, forcing staff to move patients to safer units inside. He also said some people were buried under the rubble and called the attack 'a catastrophe.' A coalition of 20 state attorneys general has filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration over conditions that they say tied billions of dollars in federal grants to state participation in ongoing immigration enforcement. The collective of top state prosecutors said the grants were meant to be used for maintaining roads, counterterrorism efforts and emergency preparedness, and have nothing to do with immigration. The officials also argue that Congress, not the executive branch, determines federal spending. 'President Trump doesn't have the authority to unlawfully coerce state and local governments into using their resources for federal immigration enforcement — and his latest attempt to bully them into doing so is blatantly illegal,' California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. The Trump administration terminated a form of humanitarian relief for nearly 12,000 Afghan nationals living in the US this week. The Department of Homeland Security announced that it was ending Temporary Protected Status, which applies to people who would face extreme hardship if forced to return to their homelands devastated by armed conflict or natural disasters, for Afghanistan. Yet the country is in the midst of a food crisis, one that has seen millions surviving on only one or two meals a day. And humanitarian operations have been hobbled since January, when the State Department halted all foreign assistance. The Taliban is trying to establish diplomatic ties with the US. However, since taking control in 2021, the radical Islamist group has closed secondary schools for girls, banned women from attending universities and working in most sectors, restricted women from traveling without a male chaperone, prohibited women from public spaces and has even forbidden the sound of women's voices in public. Approximately 150 students and 50 adults were safely rescued from an elementary school in rural western Maryland on Tuesday after heavy rains caused flooding in the region. First responders had to use boats to evacuate the students and staff from Westernport Elementary School. By the time help arrived, the children said the rising waters had nearly reached the second floor of the school. Homes, businesses and cars were also inundated with rising floodwaters. Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton said the town has been prone to flooding, but officials weren't expecting it to occur on Tuesday. 'It just seemed to happen all at once,' she told the AP. 'My heart is breaking.' MLB makes historic decisionPete Rose and 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson, who were kicked out of baseball for gambling on the game, were among more than a dozen other players who have been officially removed from the league's permanently ineligible list. 'Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,' MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. How big is women's soccer?Very big and it's getting bigger! The FIFA Women's World Cup plans to expand from 32 to 48 teams for the 2031 edition of the tournament. The event will also be extended by one week to accommodate the number of teams and a longer schedule. Eggs-citing update at the grocery storeEgg prices fell 12.7% last month, the biggest monthly decline since 1984, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The USDA said consumer prices began to drop as demand for eggs declined and avian flu cases decreased. That said, eggs still cost nearly 50% more last month than they did a year ago. TGI Fridays gives itself a makeoverThe casual dining restaurant is attempting a comeback by revamping its menu with better-quality food and more visually appealing drinks. Some of its new offerings include mozzarella sticks with Frank's RedHot Buffalo, garlic parmesan and whiskey-glaze options, a Southwestern-inspired cheeseburger and modernized cocktails known as 'Power Pours.' Citizens of Oz: Here's some wickedly wonderful newsNBC plans to broadcast a 'Wicked' special this fall that will feature stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande performing live songs from the first movie 'and maybe a little bit from the second one as well.' Other 'Wicked' cast members and surprise guests are also expected to appear. $2.7 billionThat's how much the Trump administration cut from research funding at the National Institutes of Health in the first three months of this year, a Senate committee report by minority staff said. 'News of the Qatari government gifting Donald Trump a $400 million private jet to use as Air Force One is so corrupt that even [Russian President Vladimir] Putin would give a double take. This is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat.' — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, announcing that he was placing a hold on all of the Justice Department's political nominees until he receives answers about the proposed transaction. Check your local forecast here>>> Unlucky geography?Three cars have crashed into the same Dallas townhouse complex over the past two years. Residents say they feel like sitting ducks.
