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CM Rekha Gupta-led govt issues tender for Rs 6.2 crore VIP boats with AC cabin, pantry for Yamuna inspection

CM Rekha Gupta-led govt issues tender for Rs 6.2 crore VIP boats with AC cabin, pantry for Yamuna inspection

The Delhi government is set to acquire two high-end boats with air-conditioned cabins for VIP inspections of the Yamuna River at a total cost of Rs 6 crore. The tender notice, issued by the government’s Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department on March 12, specifies that the boats will be equipped with all amenities to facilitate dignitaries’ visits, including customised business-class seats, a pantry, and washrooms.

Inside Joe Kent’s abrupt fall as GOP backlash grows over antisemitism accusations, FBI probe

Inside Joe Kent’s abrupt fall as GOP backlash grows over antisemitism accusations, FBI probe

Joe Kent’s eyebrow-raising resignation as director of the National Counterterrorism Center Tuesday has given way to news that Kent is under FBI investigation — and has been for weeks — for allegedly leaking classified information. It’s a stunning turn of events for someone in such a high-profile job, but Kent’s incendiary letter and subsequent statements have exposed an apparent fracture in President Donald Trump’s national security team, pitting officials who favor a more aggressive military posture against those aligned with a more isolationist approach. Kent rose on the right as a combat veteran turned political insurgent — a former Green Beret and CIA officer who channeled his battlefield experience into a critique of America’s “endless wars” and the D.C. establishment that sustained them. A vocal ally of Trump and a participant in post-2020 election challenges, Kent became a prominent voice in the populist wing of the GOP. Now, his recent resignation — and his accusation that the war in Iran was driven by “pressure from Israel” — has triggered a swift GOP backlash, leaving Kent isolated from parts of the political movement that once embraced him. TRUMP RESURFACES OLD TWEET FROM INTEL OFFICIAL WHO RESIGNED  His Tuesday resignation letter directly challenged the Trump administration’s justification for the Iran war, stating that “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation” and arguing the conflict was driven by “pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” He also alleged that a “misinformation campaign” by Israeli officials and U.S. media had pushed the United States toward war, claims that drew condemnation from lawmakers in both parties. After Kent’s resignation, officials said he had been under FBI investigation for weeks for allegedly leaking classified information. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was unaware of the probe, a senior intelligence official told Fox News Digital Thursday.  Administration officials also told Fox News Kent had been cut out of planning meetings for the current Iran mission, known as Operation Epic Fury, as well as the president’s daily briefings. Kent’s resignation, now shadowed by the FBI investigation into alleged leaks, has placed a once-rising figure in Trump’s orbit at the center of a growing clash over the administration’s Iran strategy, the use of intelligence in military decision-making, and internal tensions within the national security team. Kent’s rise in conservative circles was shaped as much by his military career as by personal loss.  A 20-year Army Special Forces veteran and former CIA paramilitary officer, he served in multiple combat deployments before entering public life. His profile grew significantly after the 2019 death of his first wife, Navy Senior Chief Shannon, who was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria.  Kent frequently has cited her death as a turning point for him, fueling his criticism of what he describes as failed U.S. foreign policy and “endless wars” in the Middle East. He later entered politics, running for Congress in 2022 and 2024 in Washington state as a Republican aligned with President Donald Trump’s “America First” movement.  Kent secured Trump’s endorsement during his campaigns and became a prominent voice in the populist wing of the party, combining a hardline stance on national security with opposition to prolonged military interventions. Kent’s recent departure has raised questions about internal dynamics within the Trump administration’s national security team, particularly as differences emerge over Iran strategy and the intelligence used to justify it. While Gabbard has long aligned herself with a more restrained approach to foreign policy, the White House has taken a more aggressive posture toward Iran, raising the possibility of a widening divide over both strategy and the intelligence used to justify it. Gabbard has responded cautiously in the days since Kent’s resignation, avoiding a direct defense of his claims while emphasizing the role of the president in making final decisions. In a statement on Iran threats following Kent’s departure, Gabbard did not mention him by name, instead stressing that intelligence agencies provide assessments but that “the president is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat.” Pressed by senators in a worldwide threat hearing Wednesday over whether she agreed with the White House that Iran posed an imminent threat to the U.S. prior to strikes that began Feb. 28, she repeatedly declined to say so, arguing it was up to the president to make such a determination. During a parallel hearing in the House Thursday, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., read portions of Kent’s resignation letter — including his claim that Israeli officials and U.S. media had pushed the United States toward war — and asked whether Gabbard agreed with the statement. “He said a lot of things in that letter,” Gabbard responded, adding that the president “makes his own decisions based on the information that’s available to him.”  When asked whether Kent’s comments concerned her, Gabbard replied simply: “Yes.” TOP COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIAL RESIGNS IN PROTEST OF US WAR AGAINST IRAN Kent’s remarks also have drawn sharp criticism from senior Republicans.  Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell described the language in Kent’s resignation letter as “virulent anti-Semitism,” calling it “baseless and incendiary conspiracies” and saying such views have “no place” in government. In early March, Gabbard’s chief of staff, Matt Baker, left his role, though a senior intelligence official told Fox News Digital Baker’s departure was a long-planned return to the private sector.  Gabbard also has recently brought on Dan Caldwell, an outspoken advocate of a more restrained foreign policy. Caldwell previously was the subject of a Pentagon leak probe during his time working with War Secretary Pete Hegseth, though the results of that probe have not been publicized and Caldwell insists they are unsubstantiated.  A source familiar with that move said Caldwell will be doing administration work rather than shaping policy. Gabbard’s office could not immediately be reached for comment. Non-interventionist Republicans praised Kent after his departure.  “Another insider sees what we see: no imminent threat, just lobby pressure. This is why we need to defund and debate,” said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.  “Joe Kent is a GREAT

Pentagon seeks at least $200B from Congress for Iran war

Pentagon seeks at least 0B from Congress for Iran war

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday the Pentagon will ask Congress for additional funding related to the Iran war as Operation Epic Fury continues into its third week. Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing, Hegseth said the supplemental request would help cover the costs of operations and replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles. “As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move, obviously. It takes money to kill bad guys,” he told reporters, confirming reporting from The Washington Post that the Department of War is seeking that level of funding. “We’re going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition is – everything’s refilled, and not just refilled, but above and beyond,” Hegseth added. TRUMP RALLIES DEFENSE TITANS TO SURGE WEAPONS OUTPUT AS IRAN WAR RAGES In December, Congress authorized about $856 billion for the Pentagon in fiscal year 2026 as part of a broader $891 billion national defense budget. Fox News confirmed Thursday that the War Department is seeking funding “north of $200 billion,” with replenishing ammunition stockpiles expected to be the biggest challenge. A senior House Republican source also told Fox News the price tag “will be whatever it will be.” HEGSETH WARNS ‘MORE CASUALTIES’ EXPECTED IN OPERATION EPIC FURY AGAINST IRAN The multibillion-dollar ask could face significant hurdles in Congress, where some lawmakers are expected to demand spending offsets that may be difficult to secure following recent budget cuts. Democratic support also appears unlikely amid ongoing concerns about the lack of congressional authorization for the conflict. The narrow Republican majority in the House adds another challenge, while any measure in the Senate would likely need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. Lawmakers have discussed using the budget reconciliation process to bypass the Senate threshold, but some Republicans remain wary of pursuing another reconciliation bill. NEW IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER ‘LIKELY DISFIGURED,’ HEGSETH SAYS Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. will continue pursuing its military objectives and expand strikes deeper into Iranian territory. He told reporters the U.S. military recently dropped 5,000-pound penetrator munitions on underground storage facilities housing coastal defense cruise missiles and other support equipment.  “These weapons are bespokely designed to get through concrete and or rocks and function after penetrating those barriers,” he said. “We continue to hunt and kill mine storage facilities and naval ammunition depots. We continue to hunt and kill afloat assets, including more than 120 vessels and 44 minelayers and the pressure will continue.”

Pentagon targets Iran-linked militias in Iraq as Hegseth vows ‘we will finish this’ for fallen US troops

Pentagon targets Iran-linked militias in Iraq as Hegseth vows ‘we will finish this’ for fallen US troops

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said the U.S. military is striking “Iranian-aligned militia groups” in Iraq as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth vowed Thursday to “honor” the sacrifice of six U.S. service members killed in a plane crash there last week.  President Donald Trump, Hegseth and Caine on Wednesday attended the dignified transfer of the six fallen soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The Pentagon said last week that the U.S. forces were killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during a combat mission in support of Operation Epic Fury.  Caine said Thursday that in Iraq, AH-64 helicopters “have been striking against Iranian-aligned militia groups to make sure that we suppress any threat in Iraq against U.S. forces or U.S. interests.”  “And we remain focused on pursuit of any platform that Iran could field to harm Americans or our partners,” he added. TRUMP THREATENS KEY IRANIAN GAS FIELD AFTER ISRAELI STRIKE Reflecting on the fallen U.S. service members, Hegseth said, “Yesterday at Dover Air Force Base, President Trump, the chairman, and I stood in solemn silence as heroes came home.”  “Flag-draped caskets. We honored them. We grieved with their families, and we listened. What I heard through tears, through hugs, through strength and through unbreakable resolve was the same from family after family. They said, ‘finish this. Honor their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done.’ My response, along with that of the president, was simple — of course, we will finish this. We will honor their sacrifice,” Hegseth said.  “Yesterday’s ceremony reminded us why we fight. Not for nation building or democracy promotion, but to crush direct threats to America, Americans, and our interests. We fight to win, and we are winning, on our terms, following our objectives,” he continued. 12 ARAB AND ISLAMIC COUNTRIES UNITE TO CONDEMN ‘HEINOUS’ IRANIAN ATTACKS “My 13-year-old son popped into my office last night while I was editing these remarks. He asked about the war and the families I met at Dover, and I looked at him and I said, ‘They died for you, son, so that your generation doesn’t have to deal with a nuclear Iran’,” Hegseth also said. “It’s the truth. And they did. So to the families who said, ‘finish this,’ we will. And I say the same to every American who wants peace through strength. May Almighty God continue to bless our troops in this fight. And again to the American people, please pray for them, every day, on bended knee, with your family, in your schools, in your churches, in the name of Jesus Christ. To the troops, keep going and Godspeed.”  Those killed were Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, 33; Maj. Ariana Savino, 31; Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34; Capt. Seth Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30; and Master. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28. Caine said at the Pentagon Thursday that, “Our nation will never forget their sacrifice, and we will never forget their names,” and, “Our entire joint force mourns with you today.”  Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz contributed to this report. 

Pence urges Senate to ‘restore public confidence’ with nationwide voter ID law

Pence urges Senate to ‘restore public confidence’ with nationwide voter ID law

EXCLUSIVE: Former Vice President Mike Pence says that a national voter ID law “is truly an idea whose time has come.” In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Pence urged the Senate to “make voter ID the law of the land in all 50 states.” The Senate is currently debating the SAVE America Act, which is strongly championed by Pence’s former boss, President Donald Trump. The SAVE Act, which stands for Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, narrowly passed the GOP-controlled House in February mostly along party lines. But it’s stalled in the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber, far short of the 60-vote threshold needed to pass the bill. The federal bill would require strict voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements across the country. Republicans say the bill is necessary to secure election integrity. FIRST ON FOX: REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS URGE CONGRESS TO PASS SAVE ACT “I think requiring our voters to show photo ID at the ballot box or prove American citizenship is simply an idea whose time has come,” Pence emphasized. And the former Indiana governor added, “I’m proud of the fact that the state of Indiana, 15 years ago, was one of the first states to adopt voter ID laws. Went all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States and was upheld. It became model legislation for many states around the country.” While polls indicate the vast majority of Americans — regardless of the political affiliation — support voter IDs at the polls and preventing noncitizens from voting in federal elections, Democrats argue the bill is not needed, since citizenship is already a requirement to vote and instances of noncitizen voting are rare. FLORIDA REPUBLICANS SEND SAVE ACT-STYLE PROOF-OF-CITIZENSHIP VOTING BILL TO GOV. DESANTIS’ DESK Democrats and voting rights groups also charge that the federal bill would create unnecessary barriers, making it harder for voters to cast a ballot. And longtime Senate Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York has framed the SAVE Act as “Jim Crow 2.0.” Pence noted that “the time, place and manner of elections under the Constitution is governed by the states. But the federal government has, under our Constitution, the ability to set certain conditions and parameters, and I believe the Save ACT falls well within the constitutional prerogative of the Congress.” The former vice president, through his policy and advocacy organization Advancing American Freedom, last month urged Congress to pass the bill. Pence reiterated his stance in his Fox News Digital interview, noting, “We have championed the SAVE America Act since it was first introduced, and will continue to. I’d urge every member of the Senate to set politics aside, cast a vote to restore public confidence in election integrity in this country.” SENATE GOP EYES BLAME GAME AS TRUMP-BACKED SAVE ACT HEADED FOR DEFEAT Pence earned the ire of Trump’s supporters five years ago, when he dismissed the president’s unproven claims of massive voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election and certified former President Joe Biden’s electoral college victory. The certification was upended for hours by the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, during which some of the rioters chanted “Hang Mike Pence.” “We all remember the election controversies of six years ago. We saw states that literally changed the rules in the midst of COVID for how votes would be counted,” Pence recollected. “There was never any evidence of widespread fraud that would change the outcome of the election, but it undermined public confidence, and it’s one of the reasons we’ve strongly supported election reform in states across the country.” And the former vice president reiterated, “I truly do believe that making sure the American people have confidence that those that are voting are citizens of this country, and that voter ID becomes the law of the land is truly an idea whose time has come.”

House Democrats vote against deporting immigrants who harm police dogs, horses

House Democrats vote against deporting immigrants who harm police dogs, horses

Nearly all Democrats opposed legislation Thursday targeting noncitizens who harm law enforcement animals.  Lawmakers voted 228-190 largely along party lines to approve the measure, with just 15 Democratic lawmakers voting “yes.” All Republicans who voted supported the legislation. The Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals (BOWOW) Act, introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., would make any noncitizen who is convicted of or admits to harming animals used in law enforcement operations deportable and not allowed to return. “The dogs and horses on the front lines of our federal law enforcement efforts alongside our officers deserve our protection,” Calvert said upon introducing the legislation. “[It] sends a clear message that we will stand up for our four-legged friends and have zero tolerance for any immigrants who assault them.” POLICE DOG HELPS SNIFF OUT BURGLARY SUSPECT HIDING IN AIR VENT Calvert cited an incident at Dulles Airport in June 2025 when Hamed Aly Marie, an Egyptian traveler, kicked a police K-9 that was screening his luggage and caught smuggled produce. The foreign national, who was promptly arrested by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), pleaded guilty to malicious assault on a police animal and returned to Egypt. The California Republican’s legislation would have made Marie eligible for deportation and inadmissible to the United States. “Can’t we at least all agree that kicking a 5-year-old beagle at an airport should disqualify a foreign national from entering our country ever again?” Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif, said in support of the measure Thursday. A majority of Democrats opposed the legislation because they argued that offenders could already be deported under existing law. SPARKS FLY AS GOP SENATOR REACTS TO BIDEN ADVISOR’S ‘I DON’T KNOW’ ANSWER ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION LAW Democrats also raised concerns that Calvert’s measure would infringe on legal immigrants’ due process rights by allowing for their removal before obtaining a formal conviction. “Here’s what America is talking about: Donald Trump’s unauthorized, undeclared war of choice,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said on the House floor Thursday. “What are MAGA Republicans in Congress talking about this week? They’re talking about the BOWOW Act.” The legislation will likely be dead on arrival in the Senate given expected opposition from Democrats in that chamber.  In addition to the BOWOW Act, House Republicans also passed legislation this week seeking to crack down on noncitizens who commit fraud in the United States. All GOP lawmakers — and 20 Democrats — supported a measure on Wednesday that would make noncitizens who are convicted of or admit to defrauding the government eligible for deportation and banned from future entry. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., one of the most vulnerable Democrats running for re-election, notably opposed the measure.