Johnson to meet Trump at Mar-a-Lago amid speakership threat
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will meet former President Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Friday as the embattled House leader faces a threat to his speakership from Trump loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. Johnson and Trump have already been at odds on the House passing an additional $60 billion in aid to Ukraine, which Johnson has for months declined to allow the House to vote on legislation already passed by the Democratic-led Senate. Trump has previously stated that he would end the war within 24 hours should he be reelected, while he has also touted converting the cost of weapons transfers to Ukraine into a loan. Trump also encouraged GOP lawmakers to successfully “kill” reauthorizing FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a measure Johnson backed. The speaker is set to try again to push the measure through the House. JOHNSON BUCKS GOP PRIVACY HAWKS IN CLOSED LAWMAKER MEETING ON SPY TOOL RENEWAL Meanwhile, earlier this month, Greene authored a resolution to force the House to take a vote of no confidence in the speaker. Greene railed at Johnson for negotiating spending bills with Democrats and forgoing the GOP’s internal rule, requiring 72 hours before voting on legislation. She is also a staunch opponent of providing more aid to Ukraine. Greene and Johnson met on Wednesday, with Greene saying she is still frustrated with the speaker’s handling of several hot-button issues. UK’S CAMERON MEETS TRUMP AHEAD OF PUSH FOR MORE US UKRAINE FUNDING Nevertheless, Trump is expected to back the leadership of Johnson, who defended the former president in two impeachment trials. In fact, Friday’s meeting has been billed as a “major announcement on election integrity,” and to tout legislation that would prevent noncitizens from voting, although no further details have been provided. The joint appearance will also give Johnson an opportunity to publicly showcase his close ties to Trump. “It’s about Trump embracing Johnson,” former Speaker Newt Gingrich said of Friday’s joint appearance, per the New York Times. “This is Trump saying, ‘He is the speaker, I am his friend, we are together.’ That’s a pretty important thing for him. He just has to endure.” The high-profile joint appearance comes days after Trump met with former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron at Mar-a-Lago.
Afghan man on terror watchlist apprehended by ICE
An Afghan national who is on the U.S. terror watchlist is back in custody Friday, the Department of Homeland Security said, after he was previously captured at the U.S.-Mexico border and released twice onto American soil. Mohammed Karwan is a member of Hezb-e-Islami, a group responsible for attacks in Afghanistan that killed at least nine American soldiers and civilians from 2013 to 2015, the terror watchlist indicates, NBC reported. Karwan was first apprehended in March 2023 after crossing into the U.S. illegally near San Ysidro, California. DHS officials tell Fox News that Karwan was not on the terror watchlist during that arrest and was referred to ICE, which released him on ATD – alternatives to detention. At the time of his apprehension, “there was not conclusive information” to match him to the FBI’s Terrorism Watch List, the officials said. Eleven months later, in February 2024, Karwan was officially added to the FBI terror watchlist after “derogatory” new information was developed on him, multiple DHS sources told Fox News. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was notified, and ICE arrested him in San Antonio in February, the sources said. Two weeks ago, during a court appearance, DHS prosecutors did not tell the federal immigration judge that the Afghan was on the terror watchlist or a possible national threat, only arguing that he was a possible flight risk. DHS cannot disclose what they do or don’t say in court, and is limited in what the department can tell a judge, senior DHS officials told Fox News. The judge ordered him released on bond, according to a source familiar with the matter. As of Friday, Karwan has been taken into custody again with a court appearance set for next year. Homeland Security told Fox News late Thursday night that “law enforcement has been tracking the matter closely to protest against public safety risks” and “the individual is currently in U.S. custody.” “DHS takes seriously its responsibility to ensure that those who enter the country don’t pose a threat to our national security. If an individual poses a threat to national security or public safety, we deny admission, detain, remove, or refer them to other federal agencies for further vetting, investigation and/or prosecution as appropriate,” a DHS spokesperson also said. “Vetting is a point-in-time check that evaluates information available to the U.S. Government at that time. If individuals who have entered the country are later found to be associated with information indicating a potential national security or public safety concern, DHS and our federal partners have procedures in place to investigate and take appropriate act.” The U.S. National Counterterrorism Center describes “Hezb-e-Islami, or ‘Party of Islam,’” as a “political and paramilitary organization in Afghanistan founded in 1976 by former Afghan prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who has been prominent in various Afghan conflicts since the late 1970s.”Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) is an offshoot of that original Hezb-e-Islami, and is a virulently anti-Western insurgent group whose goal is to replace the Western-backed Afghan Government with an Islamic state rooted in sharia in line with Hekmatyar’s vision of a Pashtun-dominated Afghanistan,” it adds. “His group conducts attacks against Coalition forces, Afghan Government targets, and Western interests in Afghanistan.” Fox News’ David Spunt and Madeleine Rivera contributed to this report.
JD Vance has never spoken to Trump about VP possibilities despite rumors
Sen. J.D. Vance told Fox News that — despite all rumors — he has not talked to former President Donald Trump about the possibility of being his vice president. Fox News’s Laura Ingraham asked the Ohio senator for his reaction to unconfirmed reports that he is among Trump’s top considerations for his running mate. “I’ve never actually spoken to the president about VP speculation,” Vance told Ingraham. “My simple answer is, I wanna help him however I can.” TRUMP COULD HAUL IN MASSIVE AMOUNT OF CAMPAIGN CASH DURING ATLANTA, ORLANDO FUNDRAISING SWING: WHAT TO KNOW Earlier this year, the Ohio senator was reportedly included on several drafts of Trump’s shortlist. Donald Trump Jr. mentioned Vance by name to the New York Post last month while discussing individuals he was personally pushing his father to choose. “If he asks me, of course, I would think seriously about it,” he continued. “It would be a great honor.” TRUMP SAYS ARIZONA PRO-LIFE LAW WENT ‘TOO FAR’ AS BIDEN CAMP CLAIMS POLICY U-TURN Vance said that while he would enjoy the honor of serving as vice-president, he is happy to continue serving in the Senate. “I’m also happy to support the agenda in the United States Senate, and regardless, Laura, you have to remember, my job is to serve the people of Ohio,” Vance said. He added, “Whether it’s supporting Trump’s agenda in the Senate, or serving in some other role.” Trump’s eventual pick for running mate has inspired widespread speculation and theorizing from media and political insiders. In February, Trump confirmed the following individuals were among the candidates on his shortlist: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a Democrat turned independent. DeSantis said he has no interest in the position, while others have enthusiastically welcomed the consideration. Fox News Digital reached out to Trump’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response.
Mike Pence lands new gig after failed 2024 presidential bid
Mike Pence, who served as vice president under former President Trump, has landed a new gig. Pence will be teaching a course at Grove City College, the school announced Thursday. Grove City College is a conservative Christian school located in Grove City, Pennsylvania. “It was an honor to be on campus today and see President Paul McNulty and so many wonderful students!” Pence tweeted Thursday, with photos of him addressing the annual conference held by The Institute for Faith & Freedom. Pence will serve as the Distinguished Visiting Fellow for Faith & Public Life for the school’s new Center for Faith & Public Life, which will “explore and support the presence of Christian faith in public institutions,” the school said. PENCE DECLINES TO ENDORSE TRUMP, WON’T BACK BIDEN In a separate statement, Pence said he was honored to be a visiting fellow for the college. “It is my great honor to serve as a visiting fellow to Grove City College’s new Center for Faith & Public Life,” Pence said. “Faith and engaging in public life are not mutually exclusive, nor should they ever be. History shows that Christians steadily working toward the common good have changed the world, and Grove City College opening a center shows they are committed to continuing this work.” PENCE: ‘AWOL’ BIDEN DERAILED OHIO LONG BEFORE FAILURE TO ADDRESS NORFOLK-SOUTHERN CRISIS The former vice president and governor of Indiana continued: “Grove City College has been a pivotal institution in helping students grow in their faith and in understanding God’s calling for their life through a rigorous education and a faith-based community. Grove City works to send out young men and women into the world to be beacons of light and truth in a world that needs leaders of integrity and principle.” Grove City College President Paul J. McNulty emphasized the role of faith in society and praised Pence as the “perfect choice” for the position. “The appropriate role of faith in the public square is a major issue in this moment of our American life. The Founders envisioned a free society sustained by a self-governing citizenry and strengthened by virtues rooted in religious belief. At the core of Christian faith is the call to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. The Center will examine how and why Christians have sought to put their faith into action for the common good,” McNulty said in a statement. McNulty added: “Mike Pence is the perfect choice for the Center’s first fellowship.” “No one has pursued this calling more sincerely than the former vice president,” the president continued. “He is an extraordinary role model for what it looks like to lead with wisdom and winsomeness in public life, and he will be a leading source of thought leadership and an impactful voice of the Center.” In a news release, the school added: “As one of America’s foremost Christian political leaders, Pence has been explicit about how his faith has guided him as a public servant. The wisdom he has accrued over decades of service in Congress, as governor of Indiana, and as the nation’s second-in-command for four years under President Donald J. Trump will benefit the new center.” CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Pence will teach a course with McNulty, write and speak with students in his new capacity. He will also participate in various events, the school said. Since leaving office, Pence has written a book, “So Help Me God,” and ran for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election. He has since suspended his campaign.
40000 devotees flock to Shri Karauli Shankar Mahadev Dham on Somavati Amavasya for Pitra Mukti
This event is also known as the Pitra Mukti Karykram (Ancestor Liberation Programme).
Erode Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha Election 2024: Check polling date, candidates list, past election results
The counting and announcement of results for the Erode Lok Sabha Constituency Election 2024 will take place on June 4.
Delhi excise policy case: BRS leader K Kavitha sent to CBI custody till April 15
Delhi excise policy case: Kavitha was arrested by CBI in Tihar jail, where she was lodged after her arrest by ED.
Harris to give prediction of ‘what a second Trump term looks like’ during Arizona campaign stop
Vice President Kamala Harris will tell a dark story about what a possible second Trump term would look like when she visits Arizona on Friday afternoon. Harris will hold a campaign event in Tuscon days after the state Supreme Court upheld an 1864 law that criminalizes abortions with no exceptions for rape or incest. In prepared remarks, Harris blames former President Trump for making that decision possible with his appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending federal protections for abortion. “Here in Arizona, they have turned the clock back more than a century on women’s rights and freedoms. The overturning of Roe was a seismic event. And this ban in Arizona is one of the biggest aftershocks yet,” Harris will say, according to excerpts released by the Biden campaign. She will call Trump “the architect of this health care crisis” and make the case that a second Trump term would mean “more bans, more suffering, less freedom.” ARIZONA GOVERNOR RIPS GOP HYPOCRISY AFTER STATE SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS ABORTION BAN “And as much harm as he has already caused, a second Trump term would be even worse. If Donald Trump gets the chance, he will sign a national abortion ban. How do we know? Look at his record. Congress tried to pass a national abortion ban before, in 2017, and then-President Trump endorsed it.” The Arizona Supreme Court delivered a 4-2 ruling Tuesday that said the 1864 law — passed when Arizona was a territory and codified in 1913 when it became a state — is “now enforceable” after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. ARIZONA SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS NEAR-TOTAL ABORTION BAN The state court rejected arguments that a 15-week abortion ban passed in 2022 should be enforced instead, finding that the more recent law “does not create a right to, or otherwise provide independent statutory authority for, an abortion that repeals or restricts” the 1913 law. The Civil War-era law makes it a felony for anyone who “provides, supplies or administers to a pregnant woman, or procures such woman to take any medicine, drugs or substance, or uses or employs any instrument or other means whatever, with intent thereby to procure the miscarriage of such woman, unless it is necessary to save her life,” potentially carrying a prison sentence between 2 and 5 years. TRUMP SAYS ARIZONA PRO-LIFE LAW WENT ‘TOO FAR’ AS BIDEN CAMP CLAIMS POLICY U-TURN Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) has urged state lawmakers to swiftly repeal the law and the state’s Democratic attorney general has said she will not enforce any abortion bans. Harris’ prepared remarks reflect the Democratic Party’s 2024 strategy of going all-out on abortion following the end of Roe. The Biden campaign this week announced a seven-figure ad purchase targeting Arizona voters with a focus on abortion rights. A new ad, called “Power Back,” will air on TV stations in Arizona and call Trump responsible for overturning Roe v. Wade and allowing abortion bans like Arizona’s to move forward. Fox News Digital’s Jamie Joseph contributed to this report. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Russia sends military trainers, air defence system to Niger: State media
Violence in the region has worsened since coups in Niger and its neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso. Russian military trainers have arrived in Niger with an air defence system and other equipment as part of the West African nation’s deepening security ties with Moscow, state media reported. Niger’s military government agreed in January to step up military cooperation with Russia, after expelling French forces that were helping fight armed rebellions in several Sahel nations. Broadcaster Tele Sahel showed a Russian transport plane arriving at Niamey airport, as it reported late on Thursday that “the latest military equipment and military instructors” from Russia’s Ministry of Defence had landed in the capital. Russia will help “install an air defence system … to ensure complete control of our airspace”, the report said. State-run Radio Television du Niger said on its Facebook page that 100 Russian military instructors had arrived in Niamey. There was no immediate comment from Russia, which has been seeking to boost its influence in Africa, promoting itself as a friendly country without a colonial background on the continent. ‘Global strategic cooperation’ Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, had been a front-line partner of the West in battling armed fighters in the Sahel but has turned to Russia since a coup last July overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum. In March, Niger decided to revoke its military accord with the United States that had allowed Pentagon personnel to operate on its soil from two bases, including a drone base it built at a cost of more than $100m. The US still maintains about 1,000 soldiers in Niger, but their movements have been limited since the coup. The head of the military government, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, spoke by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin in March to discuss “global strategic cooperation” against “current threats”, authorities said at the time, without elaborating. Niger has joined neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso – also ruled by military leaders after coups – to create a joint force to battle long-running armed rebellions. Violence in the region has worsened since the coups, the instability exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in the region bordering the Sahara desert. As of March, more than three million people were displaced there, the International Organization of Migration said this week. Adblock test (Why?)
A rubber bullet cost me an eye at a protest, but I am still protesting
I am a 29-year-old environmental activist from Chaiyaphum, Thailand. I have a passion for people power and a deeply held belief in the pivotal role protests play in enacting positive change. For many years, I have been taking to the streets with fellow activists to draw attention to the ongoing war on Thailand’s natural resources and demand constructive action from our political leaders. Two years ago, I paid a steep price for my activism. At a protest for environmental justice and human rights outside the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok, a police officer fired rubber bullets onto the crowd. One of these projectiles penetrated my eyeball. I lost sight in that eye instantly. That bullet changed my life completely and forced me to relearn the most basic life skills. It did not, however, affect my passion for the environment or belief in the power of protest. In fact, it convinced me to fight harder for environmental justice, and demand more from our leaders – including better protections for peaceful protesters. On the day that I was shot, I was at the APEC summit to protest the intergovernmental forum’s recent approval of the military-dominated Thai government’s greenwashing Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) Policy. My fellow protesters and I knew the policy would intensify the exploitation of Thailand’s natural resources and wanted to confront the APEC delegates directly about the harm they were inflicting on the lives of everyday people in Thailand. At first, the protest seemed like any other. Riot police were there to control the crowd as usual, but we did not feel threatened. We had no weapons – only banners and a sound system – and were not posing a threat to anyone. When it became clear that the police would not allow us to come any closer to the summit venue, we decided to approach the officers on the front line to try and negotiate a solution. We told them that we did not want to cause harm to anyone and were only there to advocate for the environment. They did not listen and started arguing with us – threatening us. “Hey you, the one wearing the helmet,” one of the officers told me, “You will get a lesson, definitely. Prepare yourself.” Soon after this threat, police started using their batons on the protesters. Out of anger or by mistake, one officer shot a rubber bullet on the ground, which bounced off and hit a protester. Suddenly, we were scared. Something was off – this was not normal practice. Accepting that we won’t be allowed to move closer to the summit venue, we decided to continue with our protest where we were. After a short break for lunch, we started our “cursing ritual” – a symbolic act that involves burning dried chilli peppers and salt on a stove. When we finished, we put the charcoal grill we used in our ritual on a police car. The fire in the portable grill was already extinguished, but the police directed their water cannon at it anyway. The protesters who got hit by pressured water became upset, and clashes erupted. Several police officers started shooting rubber bullets and using their batons on protesters. A few officers tried to calm their colleagues down and put an end to the violence, but no one listened. It was clear that commanders had completely lost control of the situation. At one point, several officers started to shoot rubber bullets at a car in which several protesters were shielding. I was worried that the glass would break and harm the protesters, so I rushed there to help them. As I moved towards them, I looked back for a second, and a rubber bullet hit me in the eye. At first, I didn’t understand what had happened. It was a hot day, and I could feel cold blood running down my neck, but I was not yet aware of the extent of my injury. I could hear a buzzing noise so I touched my face to try and understand what was causing it. I noticed a lot of blood was coming out of my eye. An officer approached me and told me to go to an ambulance. It was then that I realised I was seriously injured. On my way to the hospital, I fleetingly worried whether I’d see from that eye again, but I did not panic. We had conducted a risk assessment before the protest, and I was mentally prepared. During that journey, I thought not about myself but about my family and how they would react to my injury. My grandparents, who raised me, have been concerned about my activism for years since I first joined a non-violent protest group to support communities affected by coal mines as a student. I really did not want them to be upset. Once we reached the hospital, my treatment began immediately. I did not have time to worry about anything. My grandparents later told me that when they first heard that I had been hit in the eye with a rubber bullet, they feared that I would die. They said they wanted to donate their eyes to me because they feared even if I survived, my disability would prevent me from working and I would no longer be accepted in society. Thankfully, after completing my treatment and returning home, I was able to show them that I could still live a normal life. Of course, recovery was not easy. Since I had lost sight in one eye, some basic activities were very difficult for me to perform. My perception of distance and depth was off. I would often fail to grasp items that I wanted to pick up. I had to learn to use my body again and rebuild confidence. My biggest worry in those early days was that I may not be able to drive again. I love driving. I’ve always wanted to race cars and own a garage. In the early days of recovery,