Articles about Ago

• Chicago White Sox completed a stunning sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays at home, marking their best start in 22 years with strong performances across three games. • The series win highlighted the White Sox's offensive surge and pitching dominance, silencing critics early in the season. • This victory boosts Chicago's standings in the AL Central and signals a potential turnaround for the team after recent struggles.

Christina Marie Plante was reported missing in May of 1994 from Star Valley when she was just 13 years oldSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA woman in Arizona who went missing 32 years ago, when she was just 13 years old, has been found alive, authorities said this week.Christina Marie Plante was reported missing in May of 1994 from Star Valley, Arizona, after she “vanished without a trace from her community”, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Gila county sheriff’s office. Continue reading...

Divers in race against time to unearth wreck of the Dannebroge before seabed becomes construction siteMore than 200 years after being sunk by Admiral Horatio Nelson and the British fleet, a Danish warship has been discovered on the seabed of Copenhagen harbour by marine archaeologists.Working in thick sediment and almost zero visibility 15 metres (49 feet) beneath the waves, divers are in a race against time to unearth the 19th-century wreck of the Dannebroge before it becomes a construction site in a new housing district being built off the Danish coast. Continue reading...

• The Pentagon released new details on personnel reforms for U.S. Cyber Command to enhance cybersecurity operations. • Officials aim to utilize existing CyberCom powers and avoid creating a separate cyber force. • The reforms address growing cyber threats, bolstering U.S. defense amid rising incidents.

Ayman Ghazali, naturalized US citizen from Lebanon, often consumed content linked to Lebanese group onlineThe assailant who attacked a synagogue in Michigan earlier this month was inspired by Hezbollah, the FBI said on Monday.Jennifer Runyan, head of the FBI’s Detroit field office, announced during a press conference that Ayman Ghazali, 41, had frequently consumed Hezbollah-related content online before the attack. In a video recorded before he drove his truck into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township – a north-western suburb of Detroit – on 12 March, Ghazali said he wanted to “kill as many of them as I possibly can”. Continue reading...

• The Pentagon is preparing plans for weeks of ground operations in Iran involving conventional infantry and special operations elements, with decisions now resting with President Trump, according to the Washington Post. • Trump raised the idea of U.S. forces seizing Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf, telling The Financial Times "Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don't. We have a lot of options." • Trump also claimed Iran agreed to allow 20 ships carrying oil through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning as a "sign of respect," while the White House emphasized no final decision has been made on military operations.

Conflict shows signs of entering new, more dangerous phase as additional 3,500 US troops arrive in the Middle EastUS lawmakers responded to reports that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, as thousands of US troops assemble in the Middle East and the conflict showed signs of entering a new, more dangerous phase.Officials told the Washington Post that a ground operation in Iran could be limited to raids by Special Operations forces and infantry troops, but it was unclear whether Donald Trump would approve any of the Pentagon’s plans. Continue reading...

Amanda Smith was reunited with her mother, Michele Hundley Smith, on Thursday after decades-long searchSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA North Carolina woman whose mother was missing without a word for 24 years before authorities managed to locate her – alive and well – has reunited with her and says she forgives her.“I know everything is not black and white – there’s a whole gray area,” Amanda Smith said of her mother, 62-year-old Michele Hundley Smith, after they embraced in front of a courthouse on Thursday. “And so I mean, look – life’s too short for me to hold a grudge against her because she’s my mom.” Continue reading...

• The Pentagon is considering deploying up to 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East beyond the 1,500 already mobilized from the 82nd Airborne Division, according to a senior U.S. defense official. • U.S. Central Command reported striking more than 8,000 targets, including over 130 Iranian naval vessels, while Israel confirmed dropping more than 15,000 munitions as part of coordinated Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion campaigns launched on February 28. • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on March 27 that Washington expects the operation against Iran to conclude "within weeks, not months" and that the U.S. can meet all objectives without using ground troops.

• Democrat Emily Gregory, a first-time fitness business owner, defeated Republican Jon Maples in a Florida State House special election for a district encompassing President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home. • Maples was endorsed by Trump and aligned with his policies, yet Gregory flipped the seat previously won by 19 points by Republican Mike Caruso in 2024. • The stunning upset signals building Democratic momentum ahead of the 2026 midterms in Trump's backyard.

• The Pentagon is developing military options described as a 'final blow' against Iran that could include ground forces invasion, according to Axios reporting on March 27. • One plan involves invading or blockading Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal; another would send U.S. forces into Iran's interior to secure highly enriched uranium at nuclear facilities. • The escalation plans emerge as President Trump extended his ultimatum deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz to April 6, marking the third delay since initially setting the deadline for March 27.

• The US Pentagon is developing plans for a 'final blow' in the Iran war, involving ground troops and massive bombing, as reported by Axios citing two US officials and knowledgeable sources on March 27, 2026. • US Central Command confirmed an Israeli airstrike killed Iran's IRGC Navy commander, amid escalating naval tensions near the Strait of Hormuz. • The Wall Street Journal revealed considerations for deploying 10,000 additional US troops with armored vehicles to the Middle East, coordinating with existing Marines and the 82nd Airborne Division.

• U.S. District Judge Rita Lin ruled in favor of AI firm Anthropic, temporarily blocking the Pentagon from branding it a supply chain risk after failed defense contract talks. • The ruling also halts President Trump's directive for federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's Claude AI, following a hearing on March 24 in San Francisco federal court. • Judge Lin criticized the measures as punitive rather than protective, noting the government could simply cease using Claude without broader actions.

Face-off is over company’s refusal to let defense department use its Claude AI model in autonomous weapons systemsA federal judge in California sided with Anthropic in its case against the Department of Defense on Thursday, ordering a temporary pause on the government’s punitive measures against the artificial intelligence firm.Judge Rita Lin granted Anthropic’s request for a temporary injunction while the northern district court of California hears the company’s case. Anthropic argued that the Department of Defense and Donald Trump violated its first amendment rights in declaring the company a supply chain risk and ordering government agencies to cease using its technology. Continue reading...

Remarks come after defense secretary calls for changes to military’s chaplain corps, which had been ‘watered down’The defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, prayed during a religious service at the Pentagon that there be “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy”.The Christian worship service, held on Wednesday before military and civilian workers at the Pentagon, was Hegseth’s first since the Iran war began, the Associated Press reported. Continue reading...

• Democrat Emily Gregory won a special election on March 24, 2026, flipping a solidly Republican Florida state legislative district that includes President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. • The victory serves as a warning sign for Republicans amid high gas prices driven by the Iran war, unprecedented airport security delays from a five-week partial government shutdown, and voter concerns over living costs and inflation. • President Trump rallied the GOP at the National Republican Congressional Committee's fundraising dinner on March 25 in Washington, promising 'bigger majorities' despite polling showing public disapproval of U.S. military action in Iran and weakening labor market.

• The Pentagon has deployed approximately 2,000 soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, providing President Trump with additional military options while he pursues diplomatic efforts with Iran. • The troop movement occurs as the Trump administration has sent Iran a 15-point ceasefire plan through Pakistani intermediaries, according to officials briefed on the diplomacy. • The dual strategy reflects efforts to find an economic off-ramp from the Middle East conflict while maintaining military readiness, though Iran has given a negative response to the ceasefire proposal.

Today show co-host appeared in pretaped interview as her mother, Nancy Guthrie, has been missing for seven weeksSavannah Guthrie, the co-host of NBC’s Today show, has described her family’s ordeal as “agony” in her first interview since her mother’s disappearance more than seven weeks ago.“Someone needs to do the right thing. We are in agony. We are in agony. It is unbearable,” Guthrie said through tears in a preview of the pretaped interview with her co-host, Hoda Kotb, which previewed on Wednesday. Continue reading...

• Anthropic filed a lawsuit in San Francisco federal court on March 24, 2026, urging a judge to block the Pentagon's designation of the AI firm as a supply-chain risk. • The company described the label as 'unprecedented and stigmatizing,' amid a feud with the Trump administration over potential AI use in warfare. • A hearing occurred on Tuesday before Judge Lin, with Anthropic also filing a separate case in Washington, D.C. federal appeals court.

• The Pentagon is planning to deploy a brigade combat team from the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to support operations against Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported on March 25. • The troop deployment occurs simultaneously with diplomatic efforts, as the Trump administration seeks a one-month ceasefire and explores negotiations with Iranian intermediaries including special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance. • The military buildup underscores the dual-track approach: escalation preparations alongside peace negotiations, even as Israel continues wide-scale military strikes on Iranian targets including government infrastructure.

Emily Gregory defeats Republican Jon Maples in district that is home to US president’s Palm Beach estateDemocrats managed to flip a seat in the Florida state house in the district that is home to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago.Emily Gregory, a Democrat, defeated Republican Jon Maples, who had an endorsement from the US president. The Associated Press called the race on Tuesday evening. Continue reading...

Spokesperson says New York Times ‘will be going back to court’ after defense department hastily announces new arrangementSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxJournalists who cover the Pentagon are pushing back against a new press access arrangement hastily announced by the Pentagon, calling it “an end run” around a federal judge’s ruling to restore their access.Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, announced Monday night that the department would permanently close a designated work space for journalists known as “correspondents’ corridor” and create a “new and improved press workspace” in an annex facility outside the building. Continue reading...

• U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman ruled on Friday to block the Pentagon's policy mandating media outlets pledge not to gather information without defense officials' formal authorization, siding with The New York Times. • Friedman wrote, 'Those who drafted the First Amendment believed that the nation’s security requires a free press and an informed people and that such security is endangered by governmental suppression of political speech.' • The decision upholds First Amendment principles amid tensions over government transparency during the shutdown and foreign policy escalations.

Ship arrives three weeks after Iranian-made drone hit British base of RAF Akrotiri on CyprusMiddle East crisis – live updatesHMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean, three weeks after an Iranian-made drone hit the British base of RAF Akrotiri, the defence secretary has said.The Type 45 destroyer will begin “operational integration into Cyprus’s defence” from Monday night, John Healey told MPs. Continue reading...

• The Pentagon transitioned from pilot projects to long-term enterprise contracts with venture-backed defense tech firms, exemplified by deals with Anduril and Palantir totaling billions. • Anduril's contract covers AI-powered drones, autonomous systems, and counter-UAS hardware tied to live missions, setting new benchmarks for manufacturing and delivery. • Steven Simoni of Allen Control Systems called it a 'meaningful signal' that startups must prove operational reliability over prototypes.

• The US Army announced a major enterprise agreement with Anduril, consolidating 120-130 prior orders into a 5-10 year contract worth up to $20 billion for AI drones and detection systems. • The deal shifts Pentagon strategy from pilot programs to long-term fixed-price contracts with select defense tech startups, with an initial $87 million task order issued. • This establishes a benchmark for venture-funded firms, amid tensions with AI companies like Anthropic restricting military use of their models.

• The FDA issued an urgent safety alert on March 20, 2026, warning of counterfeit versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide circulating through unverified online retailers, with 47 adverse events reported including severe infections and allergic reactions. • Counterfeit products lack sterility assurance and may contain contaminated ingredients or incorrect dosing, posing serious health risks to consumers seeking weight loss or diabetes treatment. • The agency recommends patients obtain GLP-1 medications only through licensed pharmacies with valid prescriptions, emphasizing that legitimate suppliers require medical supervision.

• Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg declared Palantir's Maven Smart System an official program of record in a March 9 letter, locking in long-term use of Palantir's weapons-targeting technology across the U.S. military. • Feinberg stated embedding Maven would provide warfighters "with the latest tools necessary to detect, deter, and dominate our adversaries in all domains," with implementation expected by the close of fiscal year 2026 in September. • Maven is a command-and-control software platform that analyzes battlefield data and identifies targets; it is already the primary AI operating system for U.S. military operations.

• A federal judge on Friday ruled against the Pentagon's press access overhaul that had withdrawn accreditations from prominent media outlets, ordering the restoration of media access. • The decision represents a significant legal victory for press freedom advocates challenging the Defense Department's restrictions on journalist credentials and Pentagon facility access. • The ruling underscores ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's approach to media access and constitutional protections for a free press.

Lawsuit alleged changes gave DoD free rein to punish reporters and outlets over coverage it did not likeSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration’s restrictive Pentagon press access policy, which threatens journalists with being branded security risks if they seek information not authorized for public release.The lawsuit by the New York Times in the Washington DC federal court alleged that policy changes by the defense department last year gave it free rein to freeze out reporters and news outlets over coverage the department did not like, in violation of the constitution’s protections for free speech and due process. Continue reading...