Latest News from International Business Times
International Business Times
2 hours ago
- International Business Times
Memphis Man Fatally Shoots Girlfriend, Claims He Fired After Mistaking Her for a 'Man with Dreads'
A Memphis man charged with fatally shooting his girlfriend is claiming he pulled the trigger after mistaking her as a "male with dreads" at his front door. Jyrah Smith, 23, was found with a gunshot wound to the head right outside the front door of her 27-year-old boyfriend, Deangelo Mitchell's, apartment on May 23. Mitchell Had Allegedly Previously Threatened to Kill Smith As reported by WREG, Mitchell told police he shot Smith in a case of mistaken identity. Police responded to reports of shots ringing out following an argument on the second floor of one of the apartment buildings in the 400 block of East Georgia Avenue. Smith's family members told police that Mitchell had previously threatened to kill her and her three children — a 1-year-old, a 3-year-old, and a 6-year-old. Mitchell Fled from the Scene After the Shooting, Did Not Attempt to Aid Smith or Call an Ambulance Police said Mitchell threw the shotgun away after the shooting and did not attempt to aid Smith or call an ambulance. A spent shotgun shell was located inside Mitchell's apartment, but he was nowhere to be found. Police say Mitchell turned himself in at around 1:20 p.m. that same day. He told officers that he was asleep and woke up to male and female voices outside his apartment. He said they were knocking on his door, so he armed himself with a shotgun. When Mitchell opened the door, he shot who he claims he thought was a man with dreads. Mitchell said he was a few feet away from the person he shot and didn't recognize the person as Smith. Mitchell has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Smith's shooting death. Mitchell Has a History of Domestic Violence Records show Mitchell has a history of domestic violence. He was arrested in August 2024 after he allegedly punched the mother of his child in the face repeatedly while she was working at a hotel. In November 2019, Mitchell was arrested and charged with assault after he allegedly kicked and punched a woman in the head multiple times. In January 2020, he was charged with violating bond agreements in connection with the previous incident. He was allegedly caught banging on his ex-girlfriend's window. Mitchell is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 9. Smith's family has set up a GoFundMe as they try to raise money for her funeral costs.
International Business Times
11 hours ago
- International Business Times
Singapore: 51-Year-Old Man Arrested for Mischief After Fire Breaks Out at Whampoa HDB Block
A 51-year-old man was arrested for mischief by fire after a fire broke out at a Housing Board building at 20 Jalan Tenteram on Thursday, May 29. The police claimed that they got a call for help about 11.40 am. They told CNA, "Four persons, aged between 12 and 74, were conveyed conscious to the hospital. A 51-year-old man was also conveyed conscious to the hospital and subsequently arrested for the offence of mischief by fire." However, the police investigations are still ongoing. According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), approximately 40 people were evacuated from the block as a precautionary measure. SCDF stated on social media that firemen arrived at the incident at approximately 11.40 am, adding that the fire affected things put along the corridor outside units on the second and third floors. The SCDF said that the fire had also affected the inside of both these units. They added that the fire was extinguished using two water jets. "As a result of the fire, a few neighbouring units also sustained heat and soot damage," it said. Two patients were admitted to Singapore General Hospital, while two others at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and one to KK Women's and Children's Hospital due to smoke inhalation. "The cause of the fire is under investigation," SCDF said. SCDF advised members of the public to "help maintain a safe living environment by keeping common corridors, lift lobbies and staircases free of clutter". "A cluttered corridor can increase the risk of fire spread, hinder evacuation efforts and delay SCDF's response during an emergency," it added.
International Business Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- International Business Times
Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Ban on Enrolling Foreign Students at Harvard in Crushing Blow to Trump Admin
A U.S. District Court Judge has ruled that the federal government isn't allowed to make any permanent changes to Harvard University's student visa program. U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs said on Thursday that she will order the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department not to make any changes to Harvard's student visa program. "I want to maintain the status quo," Burroughs said, supporting the idea of allowing Harvard to resume accepting international students and visa holders and urged both parties to work out a deal to temporarily lift the freeze on the student's visa program, CNN reported as the details were still being hashed out in court. Another Setback for Trump "It doesn't need to be draconian, but I want to make sure it's worded in such a way that nothing changes," Burroughs said. Harvard's lead attorney, Ian Gershengorn, added that he wants to ensure no "shenanigans" to take place once the order is in place. Hours before the intense legal clash began, the administration filed a legal notice giving Harvard 30 days to defend its right to continue admitting foreign students under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. On Wednesday, President Trump said that Harvard should cut its international student population by half to help "make Harvard great again," setting a cap of 15 percent compared to the current 27.2 percent of international enrollees. "We have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools, [but] they can't get in because we have foreign students there," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday. Trump has also warned that Harvard could lose roughly $3.3 billion in federal funding if it doesn't comply with certain demands aimed at curbing antisemitism on campus. He even suggested redirecting that money to vocational schools instead. Harvard at the Center of Controversy Meanwhile, just six miles from a courtroom hearing on the matter, Harvard held its 2025 commencement ceremony. University President Alan Garber, who has pledged to "stand firm" in the dispute with the administration, was cheered as he greeted the crowd of nearly 32,000 gathered in Harvard Yard. The graduation ceremony was prepped with several anti-Israel and anti-Trump remarks and protests. According to the Harvard Crimson, around 50 protesters lined Massachusetts Avenue holding signs with messages like "support students punished for opposing genocide" and "stop arming Israel." During the graduation ceremony, a brief confrontation broke out between campus police and two people who unfurled a banner that read "there are no universities left in Gaza" on the steps of Widener Library. The Harvard Crimson described the scene as "heated." Police confiscated the banner, and one of the protesters was heard shouting, "give me my flag back" at an officer. It remains unclear whether the people involved had any official ties to Harvard. Elsewhere on campus, another protest banner was hung from a second-story window of Sever Hall. It read, "Harvard divest from genocide in Gaza" in bold black and red letters. A small group of graduates in their caps and gowns near the building turned to take pictures of the banner before campus police quickly took it down. According to the report, three university officials went into the building to try to identify who was responsible, but they were unsuccessful.
International Business Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- International Business Times
Oil Prices Climb as U.S. Court Blocks Tariffs, Supply Disruptions and OPEC+ Production Talks Raise Market Expectations
Oil prices rose on Thursday after a U.S. trade court denied most of the tariffs the Trump administration had put in place. The move allayed fears over the global economy and lifted expectations for oil demand. Brent crude added 1.6% to $65.93 a barrel by midday, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude jumped 1.7% to $62.90 a barrel. The court held that the expansive tariffs on imports from multiple trading partners of the United States were beyond the president's authority. This is a positive development for world trade as well as economic growth, which supports stronger fuel demand. But the ruling may be appealed, leaving some uncertainty. The oil market is also monitoring possible new United States sanctions that would restrict Russian crude exports. The sanctions could curtail supply and drive up prices. While OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, are expected to meet later this week and debate raising oil production. Sources predict an increase of approximately 411,000 barrels per day as demand increases. Supply fears rose after Chevron halted its oil extraction in Venezuela following the expiration of a major operating license earlier this year. Before the shutdown, Chevron's production eclipsed 290,000 barrels per day, or a third of Venezuela's total output. Analysts expect global demand for oil liquids to exceed supply by between 600,000 and 700,000 barrels a day each month between May and August. That imbalance suggests an oil-price bull market during the travel- and industry-heavy summer season. Complicating supply matters are the wildfires in Alberta, Canada, which have forced evacuations and temporary shutdowns of some oil and gas operations. These disruptions cut crude supplies and place additional upward pressure on prices." Investors are paying close attention to weekly U.S. inventory figures to inform what they think about crude and fuel stock levels. Preliminary estimates indicate that U.S. crude and gasoline stockpiles fell last week, potentially aiding additional price gains.
International Business Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- International Business Times
Gold Prices Rebound as Soft Jobs Data Fuels Rate Cut Expectations
Gold prices shot up Thursday on weaker-than-expected U.S. jobless claims data and a key court ruling that struck down most of former President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs. These events have driven an increase in investor demand for gold as a safe-haven asset. Spot gold gained 0.9% to $3,319.22 an ounce by 09:37 ET (13:37 GMT), bouncing from session lows. Gold futures in the United States were flat at $3,294.60. The U.S. Labor Department said in its weekly report that initial jobless claims rose by 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 240,000 for the week ending May 24, topping economists' forecast of 230,000. The increase indicates a potential weakening in the labor market — a factor that may impact the monetary policy plans of the Federal Reserve. "Gold is rallying on a jump in weekly initial jobless claims, which may be an early sign of a softening labor market and the market starting to price in rate cuts more rapidly by the Federal Reserve," said Tai Wong, an independent metals trader. In a parallel ruling, the U.S. Court of International Trade decided that former President Donald J. Trump had overstepped his authority when he imposed widespread tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. However, the tariffs on auto, steel, and aluminum imports—based on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962—remain in place. The Trump administration said it would appeal the decision, and the case could eventually reach the Supreme Court. Analysts said while the ruling introduced new uncertainty, it wasn't fundamentally likely to change the overall trading relationship with the important partners. Investors are also looking forward to the U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data, due Friday, that might offer more clues about which way inflation trends are headed and what it might mean for the Federal Reserve policy. Other precious metals also gained: silver added 0.9% to trade at $33.28 an ounce, platinum climbed 1% to $1,085.59, and palladium gained 0.6% to $968.43.
