Author: Mandy Matthews

The Palestinian death toll has surpassed 70,000 since the Israel-Hamas war began, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday, and a hospital reported that Israeli fire killed two Palestinian children. The scale of civilian suffering in Gaza is staggering, and those numbers are driving a hard look at both military tactics and humanitarian response. Hospitals in the territory are stretched thin, reporting mounting casualties while struggling with fuel, supplies, and damaged infrastructure. Local health officials have repeatedly issued grim tallies, and the figure above underscores how deep the crisis has become. Behind the statistics are families and neighborhoods torn apart, with many…

The White House plans to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants, a decision that will remove legal protections for roughly 353,000 people effective February 3, 2026, after a Department of Homeland Security notice and related reviews. The administration of President Donald Trump is moving to let the protected status of Haitian migrants expire in February 2026, a shift that changes the legal standing of hundreds of thousands of people. DHS announced the decision in a formal notice and set a termination date that will take effect next year. That move marks a clear policy break from the recent expansion…

Four Florida firefighters were arrested and fired for an alleged hazing incident this month that included whipping and waterboarding. The episode has prompted both criminal and administrative responses, opened questions about department culture, and drawn attention to how public safety agencies handle misconduct. The arrests and dismissals have put a spotlight on an event described as hazing that involved extreme and dangerous behavior. Officials say the actions reportedly included whipping and waterboarding, triggering immediate disciplinary action and law enforcement involvement. Community members and colleagues are reacting with concern as authorities sort out the facts. When allegations like these surface, departments…

President Jose Jeri of Peru said his government on Friday would declare a state of emergency along the country’s southern border and deploy more armed forces to the area as a large number of Venezuelan migrants began arriving, shifting security and humanitarian responsibilities to national authorities. President Jose Jeri of Peru said his government on Friday would declare a state of emergency along the country’s southern border and deploy more armed forces to the area. That announcement came as officials grapple with sudden flows of people approaching the frontier. The move signals a rapid pivot toward security measures at a…

Every month brings another reminder that the Biden-era immigration choices left dangerous gaps, and recent attacks tied to people who entered under those policies underscore why stricter vetting and enforcement are necessary. This past month delivered another grim example: two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., were gunned down after being on duty less than 24 hours, ambushed by a man who crossed the country to commit the attack. That kind of cross-country violence raises hard questions about how certain people were allowed into the country and cleared to stay. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro noted that “Afghanistan native Rahmanullah Lakanwal,…

A fleet of UPS aircraft grounded after a deadly crash will likely stay out of service through the peak holiday season while inspections and repairs are completed, the company said Wednesday in a statement. UPS paused operations for the affected planes after a deadly crash and launched an immediate inspection program. The company said the work will include detailed checks and any repairs needed before crews return the aircraft to service. That timing means the planes probably will not be available during the busiest shipping stretch of the year. The pause is meant to make sure safety protocols are fully…

A federal judge has asked the Justice Department to provide information on what materials are subject to protection and how it will protect victims of the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as documents are reviewed. The court’s request puts the spotlight on how sensitive evidence and records from the Jeffrey Epstein matter will be handled going forward. Judges often demand clear plans when victims’ privacy and safety are at stake. This step signals scrutiny over procedures for sealed files and restricted materials. The judge asked the Justice Department to identify which materials should remain shielded from public view. That includes…

Peru’s Supreme Court has sentenced former President Pedro Castillo to 11.5 years in prison for conspiracy to commit a rebellion in 2022, after he attempted to dissolve Congress during a deep political clash. Peru’s political scene has been volatile for several years, and this sentence marks another dramatic turn. Pedro Castillo, a former schoolteacher who rose quickly in national politics, tried to dissolve Congress in 2022 as lawmakers moved to remove him. The court found that act part of a conspiracy to commit a rebellion and imposed an 11.5 year prison term. The case centers on a single chaotic episode…

A newly released House bill aimed at protecting children online drops a key enforcement provision that was included in the Senate version, a change sponsors and advocates say removes the measure’s main mechanism for holding social media companies accountable. Republicans support protecting children from predatory or harmful online content, but we also expect the laws Congress passes to have real teeth. The House draft leaves out a provision from the Senate bill that backers say is the enforcement tool, and that omission has raised alarms among lawmakers and parents. That gap matters because without enforcement, promises on paper often fail…

The Department of Homeland Security’s own 2022 assessment acknowledged a risky parole practice, and that admission raises serious questions about border policy, vetting, and public safety. The 2022 DHS report bluntly admits the government may have “paroled individuals into the United States who pose a risk to national security and the safety of local communities.” That sentence is not spin; it is a government document acknowledging a tangible lapse in control over who is being allowed entry. When an agency concedes that reality, it demands oversight and accountability, not euphemisms or process reshuffling. This is not just a one-line embarrassment.…