U.S. military officials are continuing their investigation into the crash of a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft in western Iraq, an incident that has added to the growing number of American casualties linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
In a statement posted on social media, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the aircraft’s loss was not caused by hostile or friendly fire. Officials said the crash remains under investigation.
Military authorities also said the names of the service members killed will be withheld until at least 24 hours after their families have been notified, in accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy.
Rising Casualties in the Conflict
The latest fatalities bring the total number of U.S. service members killed since the war with Iran began on February 28 to 13, according to military officials.
Among those casualties are six American troops killed in an Iranian strike on Kuwait and one service member killed in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the expanding regional impact of the conflict.
Possible Mid-Air Collision Being Investigated
U.S. officials told CBS News that investigators believe the crash may have involved a mid-air collision, though the cause has not yet been confirmed.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the incident during a news conference at the Pentagon on Friday.
“War is hell, war is chaos, and as we saw yesterday with the tragic crash of our KC-135 tanker, bad things can happen,” Hegseth said. “American heroes, all of them.”
Crew Was on Combat Mission
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, confirmed that the aircraft’s crew was flying a combat mission over friendly territory when the crash occurred.
“Please keep these brave airmen, their families, friends and units in your thoughts in the coming hours and days,” Caine said. “Our service members make an incredible sacrifice to go forward and do the things that the nation asks of them.”
Second Aircraft Landed Safely
Officials said a second U.S. KC-135 tanker aircraft was also involved in the same incident but managed to land safely after sustaining damage.
According to flight tracking service Flightradar24, a KC-135 tanker declared an emergency before landing in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening.
The crashed aircraft reportedly went down near Turaibil, an area along the Iraq–Jordan border, according to an Iraqi intelligence source familiar with the incident.
Fourth Aircraft Loss Linked to Operation Epic Fury
The crash marks the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft incident tied to Operation Epic Fury, the joint military campaign launched by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian military capabilities.
Earlier in the week, the U.S. military confirmed that three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down in a friendly-fire incident involving Kuwait. All six crew members aboard those aircraft were able to eject safely.
Recovery Mission Underway
After military aircraft crashes, the U.S. armed forces typically launch specialized rescue operations known as Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) missions.
These missions rapidly deploy military forces to secure crash sites, recover crew members, and retrieve or destroy sensitive equipment before it can fall into enemy hands. Such operations can be dangerous, particularly in active conflict zones.
Defense officials say further details about the crash will be released once investigators determine the exact cause of the incident.
Credit: CBS News
Four of the six crew members aboard a U.S. military refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq early Friday have been confirmed dead, according to officials from United States Central Command (CENTCOM).
Rescue operations remain underway as authorities continue searching for the remaining crew members and investigating the cause of the crash involving the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, a key aerial refueling aircraft used by the United States Air Force.
Military officials said the aircraft went down during a mission connected to ongoing operations in the region. They also confirmed that the incident was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.
Investigation Underway
CENTCOM said the crash occurred in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.–Israeli military campaign launched against Iran on February 28.
Earlier reports indicated that the tanker aircraft was involved in an unspecified “incident” with another U.S. aircraft shortly before the crash. The second aircraft was able to land safely at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, according to military officials.
Sources familiar with the situation told The Washington Post that the second aircraft involved may also have been a KC-135 refueling tanker, though the circumstances surrounding the encounter remain under investigation.
Identities Withheld
The identities of the fallen service members have not yet been released. Military officials said their names will remain withheld until at least 24 hours after their families have been notified, in accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy.
Conflicting Claims
Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed armed groups operating in the region, claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft.
In a statement, the group said it targeted the aircraft “in defense of our country’s sovereignty and airspace.”
However, U.S. military officials have so far not confirmed any hostile involvement in the crash, leaving the exact cause of the incident unclear.
Rising Casualties
The deaths bring the total number of U.S. service members killed in the current conflict to 11, as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East.
Defense officials say further updates will be released as rescue teams complete their operations and investigators determine what led to the aircraft’s loss.
Credit: CBS News/Independent.co.uk
Russia has reportedly provided Iran with intelligence that could potentially help Tehran identify and target U.S. military assets in the Middle East, according to two officials familiar with American intelligence assessments.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the information, said the intelligence shared by Russia may include details that could assist Iran in identifying American warships, aircraft, and other military assets operating in the region.
However, the officials emphasized that U.S. intelligence has not found evidence that Moscow is directing Iran on how to use the information, even as tensions escalate following the latest military confrontation in the region.
Escalating Conflict in the Region
The development comes amid an intensifying conflict after the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran roughly a week ago. In response, Iran has fired retaliatory missile and drone attacks at American assets and allied interests across the Persian Gulf.
If confirmed, the intelligence sharing would mark the first indication that Russia may be seeking to play a more direct role in the growing confrontation.
Russia is among the few major powers that maintain close diplomatic relations with Iran, which has faced years of international pressure and sanctions over its nuclear program and its support for regional proxy groups including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.
White House Downplays Impact
The White House moved quickly to minimize the significance of the reports.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Friday that any alleged intelligence sharing had not affected ongoing military operations.
“It clearly is not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them,” she said.
Leavitt declined to comment on whether Donald Trump had discussed the matter with Vladimir Putin, or whether the administration believed Russia should face consequences if the intelligence-sharing claims are confirmed.
Kremlin Responds
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there had been no request from Iran for military assistance.
“We are in dialogue with the Iranian side, with representatives of the Iranian leadership, and will certainly continue this dialogue,” Peskov said.
When pressed on whether Russia had provided any military or intelligence support to Tehran since the conflict began, he declined to comment further.
Growing Russia–Iran Partnership
Russia and Iran have strengthened their ties in recent years, particularly since Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Western officials say Tehran has supplied Russia with drones and missiles used in that conflict, deepening cooperation between the two countries.
The latest intelligence claims highlight the increasingly complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding the Middle East conflict and raise new concerns about the possibility of broader international involvement.
Analysts warn that any deeper cooperation between Russia and Iran could further complicate diplomatic efforts and increase the risk of a wider regional confrontation.
Credit: AP
Health officials are monitoring a rise in cases of Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in several parts of the United States, including California and New Jersey, according to recent public health reports.
The respiratory virus can cause both upper and lower respiratory infections, producing symptoms similar to other seasonal illnesses such as influenza and RSV. While most people recover without complications, medical experts say certain groups—particularly young children and older adults—face a higher risk of severe illness.
No Vaccine or Specific Treatment
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral medication available to treat HMPV infections.
Instead, treatment focuses on supportive care, which involves managing symptoms while the body fights the virus naturally. Health experts recommend that individuals who become ill should:
Drink plenty of fluids, Stay home and rest, Monitor symptoms carefully.
In more serious cases where breathing becomes difficult, doctors may administer treatments such as oxygen therapy, according to the Cleveland Clinic. “Most people will recover on their own,” the CDC notes, though medical attention may be necessary if symptoms worsen.
Not a New Virus
Despite growing attention, HMPV is not a newly discovered virus. It was first identified in 2001 and has circulated globally for decades.
Data from the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) indicates that the virus currently accounts for just over 5% of weekly positive respiratory virus tests, up from 3.83% the week before.
During a previous spike in April 2025, the percentage reached 7.43%, suggesting that periodic increases in infections are not unusual.
Increased Health System Activity
Health officials in New Jersey say rising HMPV cases—combined with ongoing infections from COVID-19, RSV, and seasonal flu—have contributed to a surge in people seeking care at emergency departments.
Meanwhile, in Northern California, elevated levels of the virus have been detected in wastewater monitoring systems through the WastewaterSCAN public database, which tracks infectious diseases through sewage samples.
Symptoms to Watch For
According to the CDC, common symptoms of HMPV include:
Persistent cough, Nasal congestion
Fever and Shortness of breath. In some cases, the infection may progress into bronchitis or pneumonia, particularly among vulnerable individuals.
The virus typically has an incubation period of three to six days, meaning symptoms can appear several days after exposure.
How to Prevent Infection
Although there is no vaccine available, health officials recommend following standard precautions used to prevent respiratory illnesses. These include:
Washing hands regularly, Avoiding touching the face with unwashed hands,
Staying away from people who are sick,
Cleaning frequently touched surfaces,
Improving indoor air quality and ventilation
People experiencing cold-like symptoms are also encouraged to cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing to help limit the spread.
Seasonal Pattern
Like many respiratory viruses, HMPV typically circulates during winter and early spring, which is when health authorities often see the highest number of infections.
Public health experts stress that while most infections remain mild, awareness and preventive measures remain important to protect vulnerable populations.
Credit: USA TODAY
Merrylands, Australia — A man has been killed and two others seriously injured in what police described as a “random” stabbing attack on a busy suburban high street in western Sydney on Tuesday morning.
Officers responded to reports of multiple stabbings on Merrylands Road in Sydney shortly after 10 a.m. local time. The attack occurred in Merrylands, approximately 25 kilometers west of Sydney’s central business district.
Police said two of the victims were stabbed inside a shop along the high street, while a third was attacked outside on the street. A knife believed to be about 25 centimeters long was used in the assault, according to Superintendent Simon Glasser.
One victim, a man believed to be in his 30s or 40s, was declared dead at the scene. Paramedics treated a 22-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman for serious injuries before transporting them to hospital in critical condition.
Authorities later arrested a man on a nearby street. He was taken to Granville Police Station for questioning. Police said the suspect is known to law enforcement for minor offenses and prior mental health incidents but is not linked to the address where he was located. Officials confirmed he is a local resident.
“It’s very early in the investigation. Police are unaware at this point what the motive was. However, it appears it was a random attack,” Glasser told reporters at a news conference.
He added that the three victims were not related and were alone at the time of the incident. The attack unfolded just before lunchtime in a busy area filled with shoppers and pedestrians.
“It’s a horrible offence to have taken place in Merrylands just prior to lunchtime with lots of people around,” Glasser said, describing the scene as “highly confronting.” He also praised members of the public who rushed to assist the injured before emergency crews arrived.
Witnesses reported hearing screams followed by the arrival of police vehicles, ambulances, and helicopters. One eyewitness told ABC News she saw a woman lying outside a shop with blood on the ground. Another witness said he observed a woman with a neck injury emerging from a convenience store.
Joseph Roussini, 59, told the Sydney Morning Herald that he called emergency services after seeing a woman “screaming for her life.” He described a man attempting to stop the bleeding by holding her neck as they exited a shop.
Police have established a crime scene and continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Credit: ABC News, Independent.co.uk
Chicago — The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the American civil rights movement who marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and later ran for president, has died at the age of 84, his family announced Tuesday.
Jackson died peacefully Tuesday morning surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement released by his family.
He had been hospitalized in November for observation and was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a degenerative neurological condition. In 2017, Jackson revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which gradually restricts movement and daily activity. Despite calling the illness a “physical challenge,” Jackson continued his advocacy work and remained active in civil rights causes. His father, Noah Lewis Robinson Sr., also suffered from Parkinson’s and died from the disease in 1997.
For decades, Jackson was known for his activism and political influence, dedicating his life to advancing civil rights for marginalized communities in the United States and abroad. His family described him as a leader whose “unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity.”
As a young activist, Jackson became a close associate of King and was present in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968 when King was assassinated. That same year, he was ordained by the Rev. Clay Evans, after leaving Chicago Theological Seminary just three credits shy of completing his degree in order to fully commit to the civil rights movement. In 2000, the seminary awarded him a Master of Divinity degree in recognition of his lifetime of work.
Jackson later founded and led the Chicago-based Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization that became a national platform for economic and social justice initiatives. Over his lifetime, he received more than 40 honorary doctorate degrees from universities across the country.
Born on Oct. 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson was the son of Helen Burns Struggs, who was 16 at the time of his birth. Originally named Jesse Burns, he later took the surname of his stepfather, Charles Jackson.
In 2000, then-President Bill Clinton awarded Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Jackson is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Jacqueline, five children, another daughter, and generations of Americans and global leaders inspired by his activism.
Public observances will be held in Chicago, his family said, with details of celebration of life services to be announced by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Jackson’s passing marks the end of an era in the struggle for civil rights, leaving behind a legacy that shaped American politics and social justice movements for more than half a century.
Credit:
Maiduguri, Nigeria — The first wave of United States military personnel has arrived in Nigeria, launching a new phase of bilateral cooperation aimed at strengthening the country’s counterterrorism operations in some of its most volatile regions.
A U.S. military aircraft landed Thursday night in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in northeastern Nigeria, marking the beginning of a deployment expected to total approximately 200 American intelligence analysts, advisers, and trainers. Nigerian and U.S. officials confirmed that roughly 100 personnel will arrive over the weekend, with additional troops and equipment scheduled to follow over the next several weeks.
According to defense officials, the deployment will focus strictly on advisory and technical support functions. Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, Nigeria’s defense spokesman, emphasized that the American personnel will not participate in combat operations.
“These personnel do not serve in a combat capacity and will not assume a direct operational role,” General Uba stated. “Nigerian forces retain full command authority, make all operational decisions, and will lead all missions on Nigerian sovereign territory.”
A U.S. Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to operational sensitivities, confirmed that American forces will primarily operate from command posts, providing intelligence analysis, mission planning assistance, and technical training.
Targeting High-Risk Regions:
The joint operations are expected to focus on northern Nigerian states where extremist groups such as Boko Haram have maintained a presence, as well as parts of the Middle Belt region, an area that has experienced persistent violence affecting both Christian and Muslim communities.
The deployment follows months of diplomatic pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly criticized the Nigerian government over attacks on Christian communities. While Christians have suffered deadly assaults by extremist factions and armed militias, Muslims have also been victims of large-scale violence in the region.
Late last year, President Trump ordered a missile strike in Nigeria on Christmas Day, targeting militants he accused of orchestrating attacks on Christian populations. The strike drew international attention and marked a rare direct U.S. military action on Nigerian soil.
Building Infrastructure and Intelligence Capacity:
Officials noted that the American troops are arriving in remote areas with limited infrastructure. As a result, early efforts will concentrate on establishing secure communications systems, strengthening base infrastructure, and enhancing operational security in collaboration with Nigerian counterparts.
The new deployment builds on an existing small team of U.S. advisers already working with Nigerian special forces. Those advisers have been providing training in advanced warfare tactics, including map reading, intelligence interpretation, and coordinated strike and rescue operations. The first group of newly trained Nigerian special forces has already been deployed to Plateau State, officials said.
Joint mission planning will rely on intelligence gathered from both Nigerian and American sources, including data from U.S. surveillance flights operating from a base in neighboring Ghana.
Temporary Mission — For Now
While Nigerian officials declined to specify how long the American troops will remain in the country, Pentagon sources have described the mission as temporary, with an anticipated duration of several months. However, defense officials suggested that the scope of future deployments could expand depending on the effectiveness of joint operations.
The arrival of U.S. troops marks a significant development in U.S.-Nigeria security relations, signaling deeper military collaboration at a time when regional instability continues to challenge West Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation.
For now, Nigerian authorities maintain that sovereignty remains firmly in their hands — even as international support plays a growing role in the fight against terrorism.
Credit: The New York Times
Adamuz, Spain — At least 39 people have been killed and dozens more injured after two trains collided in southern Spain on Sunday evening, marking the country’s deadliest rail accident in more than a decade, authorities said.
According to Spain’s Civil Guard, a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed onto the opposite track, colliding with an oncoming train near the town of Adamuz, in the province of Córdoba. The crash occurred at 7:45 p.m. local time, about an hour after the train departed Málaga heading north.
Around 400 passengers and staff were on board the two trains combined, rail operators said. Emergency services treated 122 people, with 43 still hospitalized, including four children. Authorities said 12 adults and one child remain in intensive care.
Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the death toll is “not yet final” and described the incident as “extremely strange,” adding that railway experts consulted by the government are “extremely baffled” by what caused the derailment.
Rail infrastructure operator Adif said the train derailed on a straight stretch of track near Córdoba. The force of the collision pushed the second train’s carriages into an embankment. Most of the fatalities and serious injuries occurred in the front carriages of the southbound train, which was traveling from Madrid to Huelva.
The trains involved included a Freccia 1000 model, capable of speeds up to 400 km/h (250 mph), according to a spokesperson for Italian rail company Ferrovie dello Stato.
Rescue teams said twisted wreckage made it extremely difficult to reach trapped passengers. Córdoba fire chief Francisco Carmona told Spanish broadcaster RTVE that responders were forced to make harrowing choices during rescues.
“We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive,” he stresses. “It is hard, tricky work.”
Survivors described scenes of chaos and terror. RTVE journalist Salvador Jimenez, who was on one of the trains, said the impact felt like an earthquake.
“There was a moment when it felt like the train had derailed,” he said.
Footage from the scene showed overturned carriages, with rescue workers climbing along the wreckage to pull passengers through windows and doors. A passenger identified as José told Canal Sur that people were screaming and calling out for doctors.
All rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended following the crash and are expected to remain closed throughout Monday. Private rail operator Iryo said about 300 passengers were aboard the derailed Málaga-to-Madrid train, while the second train, operated by state-run Renfe, carried around 100 passengers.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. Puente said the investigation is unlikely to determine what happened for at least a month.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the country faces “a night of deep pain.” Adamuz Mayor Rafael Moreno described the scene as “a nightmare.”
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were following developments “with great concern,” offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishes for a swift recovery to the injured.
International leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also expressed solidarity and condolences.
Emergency medical posts were established near the crash site, while Adif opened support centers for families at major stations in Madrid, Seville, Córdoba, Málaga and Huelva. The Spanish Red Cross deployed emergency teams and counseling services to assist victims’ relatives.
Spain’s last major rail disaster occurred in 2013, when a high-speed train derailed in Galicia, killing 80 people. Spain operates the second-largest high-speed rail network in the world, behind China, spanning more than 4,000 kilometers.
Credit: BBC
Nassau County, N.Y. — New York prosecutors have revealed disturbing new details in the killing of Aleena Asif, a 46-year-old Long Island mother who was found dead in her home last October with chemical burns to her face.
According to a statement from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Asif was allegedly murdered by her estranged husband, Asif Qureshi, who investigators say secretly entered her residence and waited for her to return home after dropping off her children at school.
Asif was discovered dead on Oct. 17 after her teenage daughter contacted police when her mother failed to pick up her youngest child from school. Officers responding to the Long Island home found Asif lying face up on her bed with visible red chemical burns around her mouth, prosecutors said.
The Nassau County Medical Examiner later determined that Asif died from asphyxiation caused by inhalation of a chemical agent, which authorities identified as cyanide.
Investigators allege that Qureshi, 53, entered the home while Asif was taking her 14-year-old and 7-year-old children to school and hid inside the residence. Her 18-year-old child had already left earlier for college classes. Once Asif returned home alone, prosecutors say Qureshi held cyanide over her mouth, killing her, and then left her body inside the home for the children to discover.
“A home should be a place of sanctuary, but this defendant turned it into a house of horrors,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said in a statement.
Authorities said Qureshi was identified and tracked through surveillance footage that allegedly showed a hooded individual unlocking the front door and entering Asif’s residence. Investigators later matched the clothing and accessories seen in the video to Qureshi, who was also captured on camera at a nearby convenience store close to his residence.
Qureshi, who was previously reported to be an unemployed software engineer, has been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree burglary. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to return to court in February, according to prosecutors.
Credit: People
Washington — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he has canceled plans for talks with Iranian officials amid a deadly government crackdown on nationwide protests, issuing a direct message to Iranian citizens urging them to continue demonstrating and promising that “help is on its way.”
Trump offered no details about what that help would involve. His statement marked an abrupt shift from comments just days earlier, when he said Iran was seeking negotiations with Washington following U.S. threats of possible military action against the Islamic Republic.
“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” Trump wrote in a morning post on Truth Social. “Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
The message came as human rights monitors reported that the death toll from protests across Iran has climbed to more than 2,000, with arrests exceeding 16,700. The Human Rights Activists News Agency said demonstrations have occurred in all 31 provinces, with more than 600 protests recorded nationwide.
Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran that the United States could take military action if Iranian authorities continued using deadly force against antigovernment protesters. On Sunday, he said Iran was “starting to cross” that line, prompting his national security team to weigh “very strong options,” even as he acknowledged private outreach from Iranian officials.
As recently as Monday, White House officials expressed guarded optimism about diplomacy. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that public statements from Iran differed from private messages received by the administration, adding that Trump was open to exploring those signals while remaining prepared to use military force if necessary.
Also on Monday, Trump said he would impose 25% tariffs on countries doing business with Tehran, effective immediately, though the White House has not yet provided details. Nations with economic ties to Iran include China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Brazil, and Russia.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and senior National Security Council officials began meeting Friday to develop options for the president, ranging from diplomatic engagement to potential military strikes.
Iran has warned that any U.S. or Israeli military action would make their forces “legitimate targets.” Iranian state media has offered limited coverage of the protests, making the scale of the unrest difficult to verify. Online videos have shown brief, often shaky footage of crowds, street confrontations, and gunfire.
Trump’s escalating rhetoric toward Iran comes as he manages multiple foreign policy crises worldwide, adding to growing global uncertainty over how the standoff with Tehran will unfold.
Credit: Associated Press
Minneapolis — The woman shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday has been identified as Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and a U.S. citizen who had recently moved to Minnesota, authorities and family members said.
Macklin Good was born in Colorado and appears to have had no prior encounters with law enforcement beyond a traffic ticket. She had relocated to Minneapolis last year from Kansas City, Missouri, and had described herself on social media as a “poet and writer and wife and mom.” Her online profiles showed family photos and posts about creative writing, music, and home décor, along with expressions of pride in her new city.
According to her ex-husband, who requested anonymity out of concern for their children’s safety, Macklin Good had just dropped off her 6-year-old son at school Wednesday morning and was driving home with her current partner when they encountered a group of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on a snowy Minneapolis street.
Video recorded by bystanders and shared on social media shows an officer approaching the vehicle, demanding that Macklin Good open the door and grabbing the handle. As the vehicle begins to move forward, a different ICE officer standing in front of the car draws his weapon and fires at least two shots into the vehicle at close range.
Calls and messages seeking comment from Macklin Good’s current partner were not immediately returned.
Following the shooting, Trump administration officials described Macklin Good as a domestic terrorist who attempted to ram federal agents with her vehicle. Her ex-husband strongly disputed that characterization, saying she was not politically active and had never participated in protests.
“She was no activist,” he said.
Family members described Macklin Good as deeply religious and community-minded. She was a devoted Christian who participated in youth mission trips to Northern Ireland in her younger years and loved music, singing in a high school chorus and studying vocal performance in college.
She later studied creative writing at Old Dominion University in Virginia and won a writing prize in 2020, according to a post from the university’s English department. She also co-hosted a podcast with her second husband, who died in 2023.
Macklin Good is survived by three children: a daughter and a son, now ages 15 and 12, from her first marriage, and her 6-year-old son from her second marriage. In recent years, she was primarily a stay-at-home mother, though she previously worked as a dental assistant and at a credit union.
Her mother, Donna Ganger, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that the family was notified of her daughter’s death late Wednesday morning.
“Renee was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” Ganger said. “She was extremely compassionate. She’s taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving and affectionate. She was an amazing human being.”
Authorities have not released further details about the investigation into the shooting.
Credit: Associated Press
Photo Credit: X/U.S. European Command
U.S. forces on Wednesday attempted to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela after a more than two-week pursuit across the Atlantic Ocean, two U.S. officials told Reuters. The operation is part of a broader U.S. effort to enforce a maritime blockade of Venezuelan oil exports under sanctions.
The tanker, originally named the Bella-1, slipped through a U.S. naval blockade in the Caribbean and resisted efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard to board it last month. It later registered under the Russian flag and was renamed Marinera as it made its way toward northern Atlantic waters near Iceland.
Officials said the seizure attempt was being carried out by the Coast Guard and U.S. military, marking what appears to be the first U.S. effort in recent memory to take control of a Russian-flagged vessel. Russian naval vessels, including a submarine, were reported in the general vicinity of the operation, though there were no indications of direct confrontation at the time.
The pursuit comes amid heightened U.S. actions targeting Venezuelan oil shipments following President Donald Trump’s order to block sanctioned tankers from entering or leaving Venezuelan ports. In recent weeks, the Coast Guard has also intercepted other Venezuela-linked vessels as part of the enforcement effort.
This latest operation follows days after a dramatic U.S. raid in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were taken to the United States to face prosecution on drug trafficking charges.
The Marinera’s attempted seizure underscores continuing tensions over energy sanctions and maritime enforcement, especially as Russian military assets shadow the pursuit. U.S. and Russian officials have not yet commented publicly on the evolving situation.
Credit: Reuters
Washington / Caracas — President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that U.S. forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, saying they were “captured and flown out of the country” following what he described as a large-scale U.S. military strike.
Trump’s statement came as explosions were reported in Caracas and other parts of Venezuela. U.S. officials told CBS News that the operation was carried out by the U.S. Army’s Delta Force, an elite special forces unit.
The operation followed months of U.S. military buildup in the region, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and multiple warships positioned in the Caribbean. In recent weeks, U.S. forces also seized two oil tankers off Venezuela, launched deadly strikes on more than 30 boats that the Trump administration said were carrying drugs, and targeted what Trump described as “the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs.”
The Trump administration has long accused Maduro of drug trafficking and collaborating with criminal gangs designated as terrorist organizations — allegations that Maduro has repeatedly denied. On Christmas Eve, Trump declined to publicly state his objective but warned that if Maduro “plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough.”
The timing of the announcement was notable. Trump revealed the capture 35 years to the day after U.S. forces arrested another indicted Latin American leader — the late Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.
Noriega, once a U.S. ally and CIA informant, ruled Panama for much of the 1980s before falling out of favor with Washington amid allegations of drug trafficking. In late 1989, former President George H.W. Bush ordered the U.S. invasion of Panama. Noriega eventually surrendered to U.S. authorities on Jan. 3, 1990, after hiding in the Vatican embassy.
He was later convicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges and spent 20 years in an American prison before being transferred to France and then Panama to serve additional sentences on money laundering and murder charges. Noriega died in Panama in 2017.
U.S. officials have not released further operational details regarding the capture of Maduro or confirmed his current location. Developments continue to unfold.
Credit: CBS News
Crans-Montana, Switzerland — Investigators believe that sparkling candles attached to Champagne bottles ignited the devastating New Year’s Eve fire at a crowded bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, killing 40 people and injuring 119 others, authorities said Friday.
Officials said the upward-shooting sparklers likely came too close to the ceiling of Le Constellation, a popular bar packed with revelers celebrating the new year. The flames rapidly spread, igniting materials overhead and triggering one of the deadliest tragedies in Switzerland’s history.
Authorities are now investigating whether the ceiling’s soundproofing materials complied with fire safety regulations. The sparklers involved were the type commonly used at parties and celebrations, officials said.
Survivors described scenes of chaos and desperation as the fire tore through the venue early Thursday morning. Among them was Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old from Paris, who told the Associated Press that he felt as though he was suffocating inside the smoke-filled bar.
Clavier escaped by forcing open a window with a table, but one of his friends was among those who died. He said several others were still unaccounted for hours after the blaze. Police said many of the injured were teenagers and young adults in their early 20s.
Witnesses told French broadcaster BFMTV that the fire may have started when waitresses entered the bar carrying Champagne bottles topped with burning sparklers. One account described a bartender lifting a colleague on his shoulders as she held a lit candle, moments before flames spread and the wooden ceiling collapsed.
Another witness described a terrifying crush as patrons attempted to flee the basement nightclub through a narrow staircase and doorway. Others smashed windows to escape as panicked parents rushed to the scene searching for their children.
Emergency responders and bystanders worked frantically to rescue victims. Valais regional government head Mathias Reynard praised the courage of citizens, especially young people, who acted quickly before authorities arrived.
“We have numerous accounts of heroic actions and strong solidarity,” Reynard said.
The severity of the burns has complicated the identification of victims, forcing families to provide DNA samples. Many bodies were unrecognizable, and personal identification documents were destroyed in the fire.
Among the missing is Emanuele Galeppini, a 17-year-old Italian golfer who competed internationally. Italy’s foreign minister said 13 Italian citizens were injured and six remained missing as of Friday. Galeppini’s family is awaiting DNA confirmation, though the Italian Golf Federation has announced his death.
Late Thursday, mourners gathered near the bar, leaving candles and flowers at an impromptu memorial. Hundreds more attended prayers at the nearby Church of Montana-Station. Pope Leo sent condolences, praying that the deceased would be welcomed “into peace and light” and that comfort would be granted to the grieving.
Nestled in the Valais region, Crans-Montana is a major international ski destination, hosting elite alpine competitions and the European Masters golf tournament each year. The tragedy has cast a shadow over the resort as investigations continue.
Credit: Associated Press
Photo Credit: Independent.co.uk
Crans-Montana, Switzerland — Several people were killed and others injured early Thursday after an explosion triggered a major fire at a popular bar in the Swiss Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana, authorities said.
The blast occurred at around 1:30 a.m. at Le Constellation, a bar frequented by tourists in the luxury ski destination located in Wallis canton in southwestern Switzerland. Revellers were gathered at the venue to celebrate the New Year when the incident happened.
“There has been an explosion of unknown origin,” said Gaetan Lathion, a spokesperson for police in Wallis canton, speaking to AFP. “There are several injured, and several dead.”
Officials have not yet released an official death toll or confirmed the number of casualties, noting that figures were still being verified. Local media reported that police acknowledged fatalities and injuries but cautioned that details remain preliminary.
Images published by Swiss media showed the bar’s building engulfed in flames as emergency responders rushed to the scene. Firefighters worked through the early hours to bring the blaze under control, while police secured the area and launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion.
Authorities have not indicated whether the blast was accidental or linked to any other factors. An investigation is ongoing.
Credit: Independent.co.uk
New York — Tatiana Schlossberg, the daughter of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg, has died at the age of 35 following a battle with acute myeloid leukemia, her family announced Tuesday, Dec. 30.
The news was shared through the social media accounts of the JFK Library Foundation, on behalf of Schlossberg’s extended family.
“Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts,” the statement read, signed by multiple family members.
Schlossberg publicly revealed her diagnosis in an emotional essay published in The New Yorker in November 2025. She wrote that doctors discovered the aggressive cancer while she was hospitalized after giving birth to her second child, a daughter. At the time, she said she felt healthy and had been physically active even late into her pregnancy.
“I did not — could not — believe that they were talking about me,” Schlossberg wrote, describing the shock of learning she would require intensive chemotherapy and a bone-marrow transplant.
Schlossberg is survived by her husband, George Moran, whom she married in 2017, and their two young children — a son and a daughter. She also shared close bonds with her siblings, Rose and Jack Schlossberg. In her essay, she recounted how Rose donated stem cells for her first transplant, while Jack repeatedly asked doctors if he could help despite being only a partial match.
Throughout her illness, Schlossberg reflected deeply on family, legacy, and loss — themes long intertwined with the Kennedy family’s history. Her mother, Caroline Kennedy, was just five days shy of her sixth birthday when her father, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated. Decades later, Caroline also lost her brother, John F. Kennedy Jr., in a 1999 plane crash.
In her writing, Schlossberg expressed sorrow over adding another tragedy to her family’s history. “Now I have added a new tragedy to her life, to our family’s life, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it,” she wrote.
She also addressed broader political and medical issues, including concerns about reproductive health care access, referencing comments and actions by her mother’s cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the Trump administration during her treatment.
Despite the gravity of her illness, Schlossberg focused much of her final months on love, motherhood, and memory. She wrote candidly about the pain of being separated from her infant daughter due to infection risks and her fear that her children might not remember her.
After being told she had “a year, maybe” to live, Schlossberg said her first thought was of her children. “My kids, whose faces live permanently on the inside of my eyelids, wouldn’t remember me,” she wrote.
An accomplished scholar and writer, Schlossberg earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University and a master’s degree in American history from the University of Oxford. She frequently wrote about environmental issues and had planned future research on ocean conservation before her illness.
“My son knows that I am a writer and that I write about our planet,” she wrote. “I remind him so that he will know that I was not just a sick person.”
In her final reflections, Schlossberg emphasized presence over fear. “Mostly, I try to live and be with them now,” she wrote. “I will keep trying to remember.”
Credit: people
Photo Credit: Social Media
Anthony Joshua Injured in Fatal Car Crash in Nigeria, Reports Say
Lagos, Nigeria — British heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua has been injured following a car crash in Nigeria that reportedly killed two people, according to multiple media reports.
The 36-year-old boxer was involved in the incident on Monday along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, one of Nigeria’s busiest highways, Punch newspaper reported. An eyewitness told the outlet that Joshua was traveling in a two-vehicle convoy, consisting of a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV, when the crash occurred.
According to the eyewitness account, Joshua was seated in the back of the Lexus, with three other occupants in the vehicle, while his security team followed behind in a separate car. After the crash, bystanders rushed to assist and flagged down other motorists before officials from Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps arrived at the scene.
Video footage circulating online shows Joshua sitting inside the heavily damaged vehicle moments after the crash, appearing dazed as he attempted to exit before being helped by others.
The BBC reported that two people died in the accident and that Joshua, along with other injured individuals, was taken to an undisclosed hospital. Police in Ogun State reportedly said Joshua sustained minor injuries and is “fine.”
Joshua’s representatives had not immediately commented on the incident.
The crash comes just days after Joshua returned to winning form with a knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami. The bout ended in six rounds and marked Joshua’s first fight since his September 2024 defeat to Daniel Dubois.
The win improved Joshua’s professional record to 29 victories from 33 fights.
Following the bout, Joshua publicly called out Tyson Fury, who is currently retired. Reports suggest the long-anticipated heavyweight showdown could take place in Saudi Arabia in 2026.
Authorities in Nigeria are continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Credit: Independent.co.uk
A Texas father used his phone’s parental controls to locate his teenage daughter after she was allegedly kidnapped on Christmas Day, leading authorities to the arrest of a 23-year-old man now facing multiple felony charges, officials said.
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the 15-year-old girl was reported missing Thursday afternoon from the Houston-area suburb of Porter after her parents said she went out to walk her dog and did not return. As deputies searched for her, the girl’s father used the phone’s tracking features to pinpoint her location.
The tracking led him to a secluded, partially wooded area in neighboring Harris County, about two miles from Porter. Authorities said the father found his daughter and her dog inside a maroon pickup truck with a partially nude adult male. He was able to help his daughter escape and immediately contacted law enforcement.
Deputies arrested Giovanni Rosales Espinoza, 23, without incident. He has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and indecency with a child, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators allege Espinoza threatened the girl with a knife and abducted her from the street.
Espinoza remains in the Montgomery County Jail with no bond set, authorities said. It was not immediately known whether he has legal representation.
In a statement, Sheriff Wesley Doolittle condemned the crime and praised the swift response that led to the rescue.
“Christmas is a day meant for joy, but this man chose to shatter that joy by targeting a child,” Doolittle said. “I am incredibly proud of our deputies and detectives who worked tirelessly to ensure this dangerous predator was swiftly apprehended and is now off our streets.”
He added that the sheriff’s office remains committed to protecting families around the clock.
Authorities did not release the names of the father or the teenage victim.
Credit: NBC News
The United States has carried out military strikes against ISIS targets in northwestern Nigeria, President Donald Trump announced Thursday, marking a significant escalation of U.S. military action in West Africa.
In a statement posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said the strikes were ordered under his authority as commander in chief and were aimed at ISIS militants he accused of targeting and killing civilians, particularly Christians. He described the operation as consisting of “numerous perfect strikes,” but did not provide details on casualties, specific targets, or the number of strikes conducted.
The announcement follows weeks of heightened rhetoric from Trump regarding violence in Nigeria. In early November, he said he had instructed the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action, warning that failure to halt attacks on Christians would prompt a swift U.S. response. At the time, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Department of Defense—referred to by the administration as the “Department of War”—was preparing for action.
The Nigeria strikes come just over a week after U.S. forces carried out airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria in retaliation for the killing of two American soldiers and a U.S. interpreter, underscoring a broader campaign against the militant group across multiple regions.
Nigeria’s government has strongly rejected Trump’s claims that it is failing to protect Christians. Officials and security analysts have emphasized that while Christians are among those affected by extremist violence, the majority of victims in Nigeria’s conflict-hit north are Muslims, in a region where attacks by armed groups are most frequent.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has previously pushed back against portrayals of Nigeria as religiously intolerant, stressing the country’s constitutional commitment to religious freedom.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” Tinubu said in an earlier statement. “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
U.S. officials have not yet released an independent statement detailing the scope or results of the strikes, and Nigerian authorities have not publicly confirmed the operation. The situation remains fluid as both governments respond to the developments.
Credit: CBS News
Veteran Hollywood actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead Sunday afternoon in their Los Angeles home, authorities confirmed. The deaths are being investigated as an apparent homicide, and the couple’s 32-year-old son is now in custody.
Paramedics responded to a medical aid call at the Reiners’ residence in the Brentwood neighborhood at approximately 3:30 p.m. PT. Upon arrival, first responders found Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 68, deceased inside the home.
According to multiple reports, the couple suffered stab wounds. Records from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department indicate that Nick Reiner, the couple’s son, was taken into custody late Sunday and booked into jail. He is being held on $4 million bail. Authorities have not released further details on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Rob Reiner was a celebrated figure in American film and television. As a director, he was behind several acclaimed movies, including This Is Spinal Tap, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, Stand by Me, and Misery. He also gained widespread recognition as an actor for his role as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the iconic sitcom All in the Family.
Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer and producer.
The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement officials have not yet released additional information regarding a possible motive or timeline of events.
Credit: Yahoo News
