Up:’Darling, I have got the paper out for you’, audio of conversation between Lviv teacher and student goes viral; Inquiry – Darling I’ve Leaked Exam Paper For You Audio Of Conversation Between Lu Teacher And Female Student Goes Viral

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The viral audio of a phone conversation between a teacher of the Zoology Department of Lucknow University in the capital and a B.Sc. student created a stir on Friday. In this audio, the teacher is luring the student to leak her paper to gain unfair advantage.



In the audio, the accused teacher, while mentioning about getting two question papers out for the examinations being conducted by the university, is saying to the student that ‘Darling, I have got the papers out for you…’.

As soon as this audio went viral, there was a stir in the university. The university administration has filed a complaint in Hasanganj police station to register an FIR against the teacher. Late in the evening, students surrounded the proctor’s office in Lviv and demonstrated. The police is inquiring about the professor.

Brewers vs Twins prediction leans on Joe Ryan’s strong home ERA in 2025


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Baseball has been a solid moneymaker for me over the past couple of weeks, with very few bad days. Yesterday I had a play on the Astros, and they lost the game in a brutal fashion, but I made up for it with a bet on Yordan Alvarez that balanced it out. He also hit a homer, so if you bet on that, you had a +230 return.

Today, I’m switching to a game between the Brewers and the Twins.

The Milwaukee Brewers just keep doing it. They find ways to win games despite losing key players and people in their organization. This year is no different. They traded away Freddy Peralta, and they still have a winning record. Add Peralta to a long list of people they’ve had to abandon on this journey to find something that works for an eventual World Series title. At some point, though, the team has to be frustrated with just making the postseason.

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Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chad Patrick throwing a pitch at American Family Field

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Chad Patrick throws a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis., on April 15, 2026. (Benny Sieu/Imagn Images)

For now, they are 24-17 for the year and 2.5 games behind the Cubs in the National League Central standings.

They have injuries hitting them right now, so maybe the team will be even stronger as the year goes along. Despite trading their ace, they have a team ERA of 3.35 and a 1.23 WHIP. Chad Patrick is going for the Brewers tonight (according to DraftKings, at least). For the season, Patrick has been solid with a 2-2 record, a 3.06 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has struggled on the road with a 5.84 ERA, and that is mostly due to his allowing four earned runs in each of his past two road outings. The Twins hitters are 5-for-15 against Patrick.

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton swinging a bat at American Family Field in Milwaukee

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton swings during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis., on April 2, 2024. (Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire)

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For a team that was expected to be one of the worst in the league, the Minnesota Twins are showing remarkable progress. They come into tonight’s game with a 20-24 record and are sporting a winning record at home. In reality, the home record isn’t all that impressive, just 12-11, but still certainly better than a losing record.

Despite a .236 batting average, the team has scored 211 runs for the year. The pitching staff has a 4.49 ERA, but the 1.36 WHIP is at least manageable.

Tonight they have a guy who is likely to be on the trade market if the Twins’ mild success doesn’t improve by the middle of the year, Joe Ryan. A lot of teams view Ryan as a No. 1 or No. 2 option for a rotation, and there is good reason to think that.

Joe Ryan pitching for the Minnesota Twins at Target Field

Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn., on June 21, 2022. (David Berding/Getty Images)

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Ryan is 2-3 for the year with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He is the proud owner of a 2.60 home ERA as well. He did leave a start with injury just two outings ago. However, he came back last week and threw six innings with one earned run and two hits allowed. Brewers hitters are batting just 14-for-69 against Ryan.

I don’t have a great look at a player prop today, aside from Andrew Vaughn going hitless. He is 2-for-12 against Ryan in his career with four strikeouts. Patrick has been decent this season, but he isn’t the same level of reliability as Ryan. Give me the Twins in this one through five innings; that way, we shouldn’t need to worry about any bullpen meltdowns.

For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024 



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Georgia town sues over ICE plan for vast immigration detention center | Georgia

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Officials in the small Georgia town of Social Circle have filed a lawsuit against federal immigration agencies over plans for a huge immigration detention facility, arguing the project threatens to overburden local services and damage the environment.

The complaint, filed on Wednesday in US district court for the middle district of Georgia, accuses US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of moving ahead with the project without completing mandatory environmental assessments.

City officials say the agencies intend to transform an existing warehouse into what they described as an immigration detention “mega center”.

The lawsuit asks the court to pause the development while judges determine whether federal authorities violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the Administrative Procedure Act and Georgia public nuisance law.

Founded in 1869, Social Circle covers about 11 square miles in Walton county and nearby areas east of the Atlanta metropolitan region. It is a small rural town with 19th-century buildings downtown, and horse and cattle farms and hay for sale on the outskirts.

Local officials, including the town’s mayor and police chief, have all publicly opposed the DHS’s plans to open what could become one of the largest immigration detention centers in the US. Residents only learned of the Trump administration’s plans to buy the empty warehouse from a December Washington Post article, on which the Guardian previously reported.

The dispute centers on a warehouse located at 1365 East Hightower Trail. According to the lawsuit, federal officials purchased the property in February and plan to convert it into a detention complex capable of holding 10,000 detainees while employing approximately 2,500 workers.

The filing says the development would significantly burden the community’s water and sewer systems. It states Social Circle’s “already-strained utility network cannot support the planned facility, which would effectively triple the town’s population” which stands at about 5,000 residents.

“Among other harms, Defendants’ plans to imprison up to 10,000 people in a commercial warehouse would overwhelm Social Circle’s fresh water supply and sewage treatment capabilities – resulting in dry taps and raw human waste spills,” the complaint continues.

The lawsuit further claims federal agencies failed to “consider how their plans to convert the Warehouse into a detention facility will impact the safety and health of Social Circle’s residents, the town’s infrastructure and resources, and the local environment”.

ICE’s warehouse purchase in Social Circle is one of several dozen across the US in recent months. In a handful of locations – such as Ashland, Virginia and Kansas City, Missouri – local opposition appears to have successfully prevented those sales.



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Trump returns from China summit touting wins but few firm breakthroughs


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President Donald Trump returned from his high-stakes summit in China with President Xi Jinping touting trade progress and warmer ties, but several of the biggest pressure points in the U.S.-China relationship — from trade and Taiwan, to AI and human rights — appeared to end without firm public breakthroughs.

“We had a great stay. It was an amazing period of time. President Xi’s an incredible guy. We’ve made a lot of great trade deals,” Trump said Friday aboard Air Force One while returning to the White House.

The trip gave Trump several economic talking points, including potential Chinese purchases of Boeing aircraft, U.S. soybeans and American energy, but public readouts and Trump’s recent remarks show some major questions went unresolved.

WHAT XI WANTS FROM TRUMP AS BEIJING SEEKS LEVERAGE IN HIGH-STAKES SUMMIT

trump xi final summit meeting tea room

Trump said the summit produced “fantastic trade deals.” (Evan Vucci/Pool Reuters via AP)

Taiwan

During the summit, Xi warned that mishandling the Taiwan issue could lead to “clashes and even conflicts” between the two countries. 

Trump said “he heard [Xi] out” on Taiwan, adding, “He does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontation.”

There was no pledge from Beijing to reduce military pressure or any visible easing of the core Taiwan dispute.

TRUMP WARNS TAIWAN NOT TO EXPECT BLANK CHECK FROM US MILITARY AFTER INTENSE XI SUMMIT

U.S. President Donald Trump shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping after visiting the Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15, 2026. (Evan Vucci/Pool Photo via AP)

Lawmakers have pressed Trump over Taiwan’s security and U.S. arms sales to the island, though Washington does not formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state and maintains a longstanding “One China” policy.

“We’ve had it for thousands of years. And then, at a certain period of time, they left that they were going to get it back. They had the Korean War. A lot of things happened and all this. But no, yeah — Taiwan, he feels very strongly. I made no commitment either way,” Trump said, referring to Xi’s view of Taiwan and Beijing’s historical claim to the island. 

A White House official said Trump is expected to decide soon whether to move forward with a new Taiwan arms package, pointing to his December 2025 approval of $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan and arguing that his record remains consistent with decades of U.S. policy.

The official also noted that Trump approved more Taiwan arms sales during his first term than any previous president, and said his first-year total in the second term exceeded the full amount approved during former President Biden’s four years in office.

TRUMP SPEAKS WITH CHINESE PRESIDENT XI, WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL CONFIRMS

Human Rights

The cases of jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai and detained house-church pastor Ezra Jin loomed over the summit, with Trump saying Xi is “giving very serious consideration” to releasing Pastor Jin, though Lai’s future may be less certain.

“That’s a tougher one. I did bring it up. It’s a tough one for him. It’s a tough one,” Trump said. “He said Jimmy Lai is a tough one for him to do. You know, he went through a lot — right and wrong, he went through a lot. So he told me that would be a tough one. He said he’s going to strongly consider the pastor.”

U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People

President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Jin, also known as Ezra Jin Mingri, is a Chinese house church pastor whose family and advocates have urged Washington to press Beijing for his release. Lai is a British citizen, Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist who has been jailed under Hong Kong’s national security law. 

The two are often linked in coverage focused on human rights, freedom of the press, and China’s crackdown on dissent.

Neither case appeared to produce a public release commitment before Trump departed Beijing.

Lai’s daughter, Claire, commended Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their “continuous commitment to freeing my father and securing his freedom” during an appearance on “The Brian Kilmeade Show” Friday.

“Of course, the dream was that he would fly back with my father this time, but I am still extremely confident that he is the president and this is the administration that will secure my father’s freedom,” Lai said.

AI and Tech Race

China’s AI advances remain a major concern for U.S. policymakers and technology leaders as Washington weighs how to preserve its edge in advanced chips, computing power and export controls without accelerating Beijing’s push to build domestic alternatives.

DONALD TRUMP DETAILS ‘MOST EXCITING PART’ OF CHINA TRADE AGREEMENT

President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping greeting children at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping greet children during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Trump said on Air Force One that discussions about chips did not come up. 

U.S. officials said China continues to weigh whether to buy advanced U.S. chips or accelerate domestic alternatives, while Trump said the two sides discussed the possibility of AI guardrails.

TRUMP REVERSES COURSE ON MIDDLE EAST TECH POLICY, BUT WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO COUNTER CHINA?

“As to whether the Chinese are going to buy [U.S. chips] or not, they’re making their own determinations,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Friday on Bloomberg TV. 

“They’re very committed to domestic production. They often see U.S. high tech as a threat to them. If we’re ahead of the game on AI chips, sometimes they feel that can stop their own growth,” he added.

Trump said China may “want to try and develop their own” chips.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES CHINA WILL RESTART RARE EARTH MINERAL SHIPMENTS TO US AFTER PRODUCTIVE CALL

President Donald Trump meeting with China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

President Donald Trump meets with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Trade and tariffs 

At the final meeting between the two leaders, Trump touted what he called “fantastic trade deals” during the summit.

Trump said China agreed to purchase 200 Boeing planes and expressed interest in buying as many as 750 once the first deliveries are completed.

While few details have been released regarding the specific agreements reached, Trump also said agricultural deals were pledged while at the same time stating tariffs were not discussed.

“The farmers are going to be very happy. They’re going to be buying billions of dollars of soybeans,” Trump said.

The president added during a gaggle on Air Force One during his trip home that he and Xi did not discuss tariffs during the meetings, even though such duties have served as one of Trump’s central tools for pressuring Beijing on trade.

TRUMP PUSHES XI ON TRADE AFTER SUPREME COURT RULING DENTS KEY CHINA PRESSURE TOOL

“We didn’t discuss tariffs – I mean they’re paying tariffs. They’re paying substantial tariffs,” he said at one point.

The talks come as Trump’s tariff agenda faced a setback after a Supreme Court ruling limited his use of emergency powers to impose duties, which cut directly into one of his preferred tools for pressuring Beijing.

Trump also suggested an energy deal was close, saying China could begin buying oil from Texas, Louisiana and Alaska.

“They’re going to go to Texas. We’re going to start sending Chinese ships to Texas and to Louisiana and to Alaska. And I think that was another thing that was agreed to. That’s a big thing,” Trump said.

President Donald Trump standing with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing

President Donald Trump stands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on May 14, 2026. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)

Iran was an area where Trump could point to a clearer diplomatic win, saying Xi told him China would not provide military equipment to Tehran and that both leaders agreed Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.

But broader concerns remain over Beijing’s economic support for Iran through oil purchases, dual-use exports and intermediary networks.

China remains a major buyer of Iranian crude despite U.S. sanctions.

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Trump said that Xi and his wife will visit the U.S. in September.



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US justice department to seek death penalty for man charged with killing two Israeli embassy staffers | Washington DC

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The US justice department will seek the death penalty for the man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli embassy in Washington outside a Jewish museum, prosecutors said in a court filing on Friday.

Elias Rodriguez faces federal hate crime and murder charges in the killings of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim as they left an event at the museum last May. Rodriguez shouted “free Palestine” during the shooting and later told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” according to his indictment.

The charges against Rodriguez include a hate crime resulting in death. The indictment also includes notice of special findings, which allows prosecutors to pursue the death penalty.

“My message to anyone who seeks to commit political violence in this district – DC is not the place. You will be held accountable and you will face the full wrath of the law,” Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia said at an unrelated news conference on Friday in which she revealed the justice department’s death penalty decision.

The hate crime charges mean prosecutors will have to prove that Rodriguez was motivated by antisemitism when he allegedly opened fire on Lischinsky and Milgrim, a young couple who were about to become engaged. Milgrim was a US citizen and Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen working in the US. The killings prompted bipartisan outrage from lawmakers in the country’s capital.

Prosecutors have described the killing as calculated and planned, saying Rodriguez flew to the Washington region from Chicago ahead of the 21 May 2025 event at the Capital Jewish Museum with a handgun in his checked luggage.

Witnesses described him pacing outside before approaching a group of four people and opening fire. Surveillance video showed Rodriguez advancing closer to Lischinsky and Milgrim as they fell to the ground, leaning over them and firing additional shots. He appeared to reload before jogging off, officials have said.

After the shooting, authorities say Rodriguez went inside the museum and said: “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed,” according to court documents. He also told detectives that he admired an active-duty air force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in February 2024, describing the man as “courageous” and a “martyr”.



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Republican Rick Scott, Democrat Elizabeth Warren field anti-lobbying proposal


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A bipartisan Senate duo are pushing a proposal to permanently prohibit former lawmakers and elected officers of Congress from lobbying.

Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida and Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have teamed up on a measure called the “Banning Lobbying And Safeguarding Trust Act,” or “BLAST Act.”

UNIVERSITIES FACE FUNDING THREAT AS LAWMAKERS TARGET SCHOOLS WITH TIES TO ADVERSARIAL NATIONS

Sen. Rick Scott

Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, in the Senate Subway during a vote at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Allison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“When politicians use their time in public office to cash in after they leave government, the American people lose. Trust in our institutions is at an all-time low, and the revolving door between Capitol Hill and K Street is a big part of that. We need to restore the American people’s trust in their government, and that’s why I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to put government clearly back on the side of the people,” Scott said in a statement.

“Our founders never intended public service to become a training ground for a lifetime of lobbying. Senator Warren and I are working to end this practice once and for all,” he added.

ELIZABETH WARREN’S BEZOS MET GALA JAB BACKFIRES AS CRITICS MERCILESSLY DRAG ‘UN-AMERICAN’ LAWMAKER

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., walks to a closed door briefing with the Senate Armed Services committee at the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 2, 2025, in Washington, D.C. ( Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The proposal for a permanent lobbying ban on lawmakers would go further than current law, according to Warren’s office.

“Under current law, former members of Congress are allowed to lobby their former colleagues in Congress after a ‘cooling off’ period — one year for former members of the House of Representatives and two years for former senators,” her office said.

WARREN PUSHED ‘FREE AND EASY’ IRS FILING SYSTEM, BUT DOCS REVEAL WHAT SHE USED INSTEAD

U.S. Capitol

The U.S. Capitol Building at dusk during a candlelight vigil in honor of National Police Week, on May 12, 2026, in Washington, DC.  (The U.S. Capitol Building at dusk during a candlelight vigil in honor of National Police Week, on May 12, 2026, in Washington, DC. )

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“It’s simple: Members of Congress should spend their time in Washington serving the American people, not preparing to cash in big time with a cushy lobbying career after they leave office,” Warren said in a statement. “It’s long past time to close the revolving door that’s corrupted our government and destroyed public trust in elected officials. This bipartisan bill is an important push to get that done.”



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Israel and Lebanon agree ceasefire extension, US says | Israel

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Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of their ceasefire after another round of talks in Washington, the US state department has said.

It came after two “productive” days of talks, and more negotiations would be held from 2-3 June, the department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.

The shaky truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon had been due to end on Sunday.

Pigott said on social media: “We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border.”

Earlier on Friday, the Israeli military said it had struck Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon after reporting hostile aircraft alerts and launches from across the border.

Lebanon’s health ministry said nearly 40 people were wounded in Israeli strikes near the coastal city of Tyre. One strike “levelled” a primary healthcare centre and damaged the neighbouring Hiram hospital, wounding six medical staff members, the statement said.

Lebanon divided: Hezbollah, Israel and the cost of resistance – video


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Trump announces National Garden of American Heroes for Washington D.C.


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President Donald Trump announced plans to build a National Garden of American Heroes in Washington, D.C.’s West Potomac Park in a Friday morning post on Truth Social.

“I am proud to announce the site of the NATIONAL GARDEN OF AMERICAN HEROES. This magnificent exhibition of statues will be located in West Potomac Park, which we are transforming into one of the World’s most beautiful public spaces,” Trump wrote.

“Right now, it is a totally BARREN field of Prime Waterfront Real Estate along our Mighty Potomac River. When finished, West Potomac Park will be a World Class Masterpiece with elegant Landscaping, and adorned with Beautiful Statues, and be yet another one of my great projects to make Washington, D.C., the Safest and Most Beautiful Capital in the World,” Trump’s post continued.

“The National Garden of American Heroes will feature the MOST BEAUTIFUL collection of statues of AMERICAN HEROES, featuring our Illustrious Founding Fathers, Military Warriors, Religious Leaders, Civil Rights Champions, World Class Athletes, Artists, Entertainers, and MORE. The people of America (and the World!) will come here to learn and be inspired by the ‘Greats’. The National Garden of American Heroes is one more project we are undertaking to honor the 250th Birthday of the Greatest Nation on Earth, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!” Trump’s post concluded.

GOP SENATORS PUSH FOR CHARLIE KIRK STATUE IN TRUMP’S NATIONAL GARDEN OF AMERICAN HEROES

The post also included an aerial photo of West Potomac Park, the planned site for the project.

An aerial view of Washington D.C.'s West Potomac Park

An aerial view of Washington D.C.’s West Potomac Park (Donald J. Trump)

The project would build upon Trump’s ongoing plans to significantly build legacy infrastructure in the nation’s capital.

The White House ballroom project, which is currently underway, is the most high-profile example of Trump’s D.C. buildout, but the president is also seeking approval for a number of other major projects.

WATCH: TRUMP REVEALS FLASHY NEW COLOR FOR NATIONAL MALL’S REFLECTING POOL MAKEOVER

New White House ballroom construction site seen from Washington Monument

Construction on the new White House ballroom is seen from the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., on April 20, 2026. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

For upcoming celebrations of America’s 250th birthday, Trump is renovating the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial, addressing leaks in the pool’s structure and adding a blue liner to make the water more visually striking.

Trump said the project will cost under $2 million. “It’s so important for our country,” he said in a May 7 announcement.

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President Donald Trump driving in motorcade near Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

President Donald Trump drives in a motorcade by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during a visit to see the new blue protective coating being applied as part of a renovation project in Washington on May 7, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Trump is also seeking approval from Congress and the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) for a massive “Triumphal Arch” to be placed in front of the Arlington National Cemetery.

Artistic rendering of the 'Triumphal Arch' in Washington, D.C. featuring the phrase

The massive undertaking would be 250 feet high, making it taller than any building in D.C., White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced in April.



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How team Burnham finally cleared the first of many hurdles on route to Westminster | Andy Burnham

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For weeks, Andy Burnham’s supporters had told MPs to “hold the line”, that he had a seat in parliament in his sights and that he would be a contender in any leadership contest. That was never the full truth.

His path to No 10 – if he makes it – is littered with more failed attempts than almost any other politician. Two leadership contests, a block on a return in Gorton and Denton, and quite a few aggrieved MPs in the north west who have had to spend weeks batting off suggestions they will give their seats up for him.

By Thursday this week, with almost all the likely contenders ruling themselves out, Burnham’s backers in parliament were getting desperate. Only the tiniest handful of the Greater Manchester mayor’s closest advisers knew the truth: there was finally a seat coming which no one expected.

When Wes Streeting announced at 1pm on Thursday that he was resigning from Keir Starmer’s cabinet, it set off a bombshell ; outwardly, things did not look hopeful. Streeting had not launched a leadership bid, and Burnham still ostensibly had no seat in Westminster from which to make his own challenge.

Locked out of parliament, Burnham seemed to be no further on than when he made his last leadership tilt, which was ended by the Labour national executive committee’s refusal to let him run in the Gorton and Denton byelection.

Wes Streeting attending the state opening of parliament the day before he resigned as health secretary. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

The mood among his supporters was bleak. “It’s a shit cocktail,” said one. “We’re all doomed.” But Burnham, as some other famous northerners once said, got by with a little help from his friends. Behind the scenes, his team got to work and finally, on Thursday, an opportunity appeared.

“It was always a case of just sitting and waiting,” said one source close to Burnham. While there was not an obvious seat, the sense was that Labour’s dismal performance in Gorton and Denton, plus disastrous results in the local election, could “unlock that route back”.

The confidence of hindsight, however, masks what has been a fraught week for team Burnham. As the guessing game of who would give up their seat took hold in the parliamentary press gallery, names and refusals began to stack up.

Paula Barker, the MP for Liverpool Wavertree, said she would be delighted if a seat could be found for Burnham, but, asked by the BBC if she’d give up her own, the answer was: “No.” Five MPs whose seats had been linked to a Burnham leadership bid all refused to stand down.

Paula Barker. Photograph: David Woolfall/UK parliament

Over the previous weekend, those close to the Burnham campaign are understood to have had a seat in mind, the Manchester Rusholme seat of Afzal Khan. But Khan is thought to have changed his mind, with some MPs suggesting interventions from No 10 played a part.

Marie Rimmer, the MP for St Helens South and Whiston, was said to hold the other seat in play. Not according to her. “I just said: ‘No, absolutely not,’” Rimmer told the Guardian when asked about being approached by allies of Burnham. “I was appalled, actually. Really insulted and disgusted.”

Behind the scenes, nerves were jangling. One Labour source said team Burnham had attempted to “bully people into stepping down” and had even offered the Greater Manchester mayoralty in exchange for a parliamentary seat. Khan was rumoured to have been offered a seat in the Lords. But he dismissed the suggestion, telling the Guardian: “There was never any question of me giving up my seat, it’s not true.”

By Tuesday, Burnham was on the west coast mainline in an effort to win over MPs and unions in person while negotiations intensified. Several MPs told Burnham they backed him, but were worried about the financial implications of losing their jobs.

Then a wildcard arrived out of nowhere. Talks opened with Josh Simons, the 32-year-old Makerfield MP who has long been disillusioned with Starmer and came to believe Burnham should be the next prime minister more than a year ago. The pair became close over the last two years, after Burnham, not Whitehall, came to his aide after major floods in Platt Bridge.

Josh Simons decided to give us his seat after Burnham had a two-hour meeting with him and his wife, Leah. Photograph: UK parliament/PA

“I think being a constituency MP radicalised Josh to how broken the country is,” said one friend. “He is so young, it is such a sacrifice.”

Another close friend said: “Burnham knows how to advocate for the people and not for the system.”

Simons only began to seriously consider giving up his seat this week, the Guardian understands. The final decision was made after Burnham went to see Simons at home with his wife, Leah, an American economist who Simons met at Harvard and who has recently given birth to their third child. They spent two hours asking in-depth questions about Burnham’s plan for government, his economic strategy, his position on financial markets, and what he could really do in office.

Then, at 5.14pm on Thursday, a little over five hours after Streeting’s resignation, Simons announced he was stepping aside to pave Burnham’s way to Westminster.

But while the veteran politician has finally cleared the first hurdle, others remain. Labour’s majority in Makerfield was just 5,399 in 2024 and Reform UK won all the constituency’s wards in last week’s local elections. Nigel Farage has said his party will “throw absolutely everything” at the byelection, while the Greens have indicated they will properly contest it.

‘Burnham winning in Wigan will change the story,’ Josh Simons said. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Burnham’s success was therefore existential, Simons told the Guardian. “The electoral story perfectly encapsulates the moral story; it’s the fight of our times,” he said.

“We are where the Democrats were in 2021, hurdling towards oblivion with an out-of-touch PM. It just needed something that could change the story. Burnham winning in Wigan, that does it.”

Just 25 minutes after Simons announced he would be stepping aside, Burnham confirmed he would run. “There is only so much that can be done from Greater Manchester,” he said in a statement. “This is why I now seek people’s support to return to parliament: to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK and make politics work properly for people.”

And, as the candidate took to the streets around his home for a jog in a vintage football shirt on Friday, the message was clear: he’s running.



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Alleged Tren de Aragua leader faces terrorism charges in Houston court


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Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, an alleged senior leader of the Venezuelan Tren de Argua (TdA) gang, appeared before a judge in Houston Friday following extradition from Colombia in a historic first for cartel prosecutions.

Martinez Flores, also known as Chuqui, was allegedly part of TdA’s “inner circle,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). He is the first alleged TdA member extradited to the U.S. on terrorism-related charges since the gang was designated a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in 2025.

“This is a first of its kind, which is important. I think, as everyone knows, in 2025 with the new administration these cartels are now designated as foreign terrorist organizations. Not only does that give us more focus and attention on these groups but it gives us more resources, more ability to reach these individuals in their home countries, that’s why this is so significant,” Jason Hudson, FBI Special Agent in Charge in Houston, said during a Friday news conference.

“Mr. Martines Flores was the first TdA member to be charged with material support of terrorism. Mr. Martines Flores is also the first TdA member thay has been extradited to the United States to face those charges in our country,” Hudson continued.

FBI Special Agent in Charge in Houston Jason Hudson briefs reporters

FBI Special Agent in Charge in Houston Jason Hudson briefs reporters on the arrest and indictment of Tren de Aragua gang leader Jose Enrique Martinez Flores 5/16/26. (Fox News)

DOJ INDICTS ALLEGED HIGH-RANKING TREN DE ARAGUA MEMBER ON TERRORISM CHARGES FOR THE FIRST TIME

Colombian authorities arrested the 24-year-old Martinez Flores in Colombia on March 31 after U.S. authorities issued an arrest warrant for him. He appeared in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan Friday morning to face charges of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization and providing material support to a terrorist organization.

17 members of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang and members of the MS-13 gang, who were deported to El Salvador by the US in San Salvador, El Salvador on March 31, 2025.

17 members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang and members of the MS-13 gang, who were deported to El Salvador by the US in San Salvador, El Salvador on March 31, 2025. (El Salvador Press Presidency Office/Anadolu via Getty Images))

Martinez Flores’ indictment alleges his involvement in an international drug distribution conspiracy via the distribution of five kilograms of cocaine or more intended for distribution in the United States. The indictment alleges the proceeds were used to further TdA’s criminal goals.

The Trump administration designated TdA as an FTO on Trump’s first day in office of his second term in a sweeping executive order that also branded all international cartels as FTO.

FILE - FBI Director Kash Patel conducts a news conference at the Department of Justice.

FBI Director Kash Patel said a high-ranking Tren de Aguaga gang member has been flown to Houston from Colombia to face federal charges. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

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“Today’s extradition sends a clear message: under President Trump’s leadership, foreign terrorist organizations like Tren de Aragua will be hunted down and brought to justice,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.



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