Tragedy in Tamil Nadu: Nine Kerala tourists killed as bus falls in gorge, PM Modi condoles
Nine people died, and several others were critically injured after a tourist van plunged off a hairpin bend into a gorge at the Valparai hills in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. PM Modi expressed grief over the incident.
Pune Airport runway temporarily shut after IAF aircraft incident, flights diverted
Pune Airport operations were temporarily halted after an Indian Air Force aircraft made a hard landing due to landing gear failure.
Three dozen Texas Democrats urge Kendall Scudder not to seek reelection as state party chair
In an open letter, former staffers and other insiders said the state party has fallen short on strategy and failed to act with urgency under Scudder’s leadership.
Texas grid operator forecasts massive growth in demand, but says data is likely flawed
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas reported that peak energy demand could quadruple by 2032, but cautioned that its estimate is likely too high and must be revised.
Texas Medical Board sanctions three doctors for delayed care in the deaths of two pregnant women
After Porsha Ngumezi and Nevaeh Crain died during miscarriages, the board ruled that the doctors’ substandard care led to the deaths and ordered them to complete extra training.
Trump set to read Scripture from the Oval Office during ‘America Reads the Bible’ event starting Sunday
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump will read from 2 Chronicles 7 during a nationwide Bible-reading event this week, a passage organizers say was deliberately reserved for the president because of its decades-long role as a call to prayer in America. Trump is set to read 2 Chronicles 7:11–22 from the Oval Office as part of “America Reads the Bible,” a weeklong event marking 250 years of the Bible in America and featuring nearly 500 participants reading Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. Organizers said Trump’s section was not assigned at random. The event’s online schedule shows the 2 Chronicles 7:11–22 reading was reserved as a “special guest” slot during a prime evening hour on Tuesday, alongside figures like former HUD Secretary Ben Carson and members of Congress. BEN CARSON POINTS TO GEN Z CHURCH REVIVAL AS YOUNG AMERICANS PUSH BACK ON SECULAR CULTURE “We needed somebody special to read Second Chronicles chapter seven,” Bunni Pounds, founder and president of Christians Engaged, told Fox News Digital. “As my director and I were praying over different sections of scripture, it came to us that this is such a critical passage for the body of Christ,” she said. Pounds said the passage, particularly verse 14, has been central to American prayer life for decades, often invoked during times of national reflection. WHITE HOUSE MARKS HOLY WEEK, EASTER WITH DAYS OF PRAYER CENTERED ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY “It comes at a time where the Israelites were experiencing hardship and God spoke and said, ‘If my people that are called by my name would humble themselves and pray,’” Pounds said. “We’ve prayed this scripture for at least the last 50 years of American history on National Day of Prayer and other moments in this country.” Verse 14 reads, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” “And so we instantly said — who needs to read that? The President of the United States,” she added. “We set it aside for him and have been praying for that for the last year.” TRUMP SAYS ‘AMERICA NEEDS GOD’ IN GOOD FRIDAY MESSAGE AS HE TOUTS ‘RESURGENCE OF RELIGION’ Pounds said Trump’s participation sends a broader message about faith in American life. “I think he’s sending a message that faith matters in this country, and that it’s important not only personally, but for our nation overall,” she said. She added that the selected Scripture speaks to the country’s current moment. WHITE HOUSE EGG ROLL FOR EASTER CELEBRATES ‘PATRIOTIC SPIRIT,’ AMERICA’S FARMERS AND THE USA’ “We’re making a statement during this week as America reads the Bible, that there is so much in the Bible that we can gain wisdom and discernment from, there is so much that can heal our families, that can rescue us from depression and anxiety and can heal our inner cities and heal our land… I believe the president’s saying that by reading this scripture specifically,” Pounds said. The White House echoed that theme in a presidential message commemorating the event, calling the Bible “indelibly woven into our national identity” and urging Americans to “rediscover” its role in shaping the nation. The event, held in partnership with the Museum of the Bible, will run from April 19 through April 25, and include nearly 500 Americans participating in a public reading of the entire Bible. WHITE HOUSE FAITH ADVISOR SAYS AMERICANS ARE LEAVING ORGANIZED RELIGION BUT NOT LOSING FAITH IN GOD According to Pounds, all participants will read from the King James Version Easy Read edition, which was licensed for the event’s livestream and a later audiobook version from the week’s readings. The event will feature a wide range of participants, including actress Patricia Heaton, Candace Cameron Bure, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and House Speaker Mike Johnson, each reading portions of Genesis during the opening hours. Readers range from elected officials and pastors to single parents and small business owners, reflecting what Pounds described as a nationwide cross-section of Americans. Worship music will accompany each hour of the readings, with different ministries and organizations partnering throughout the event. Pounds said viewers watching Trump’s reading from the Oval Office will notice the weight of the moment. “They’re going to see how passionate he is about it, how deliberate he was,” she said. “It really struck me to see the leader of the free world reading scripture from the Oval Office.” “There’s a humility on him… and I don’t believe that he would have read it if he didn’t believe it,” she added. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. “America Reads the Bible” begins 9 a.m. ET Sunday.
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Dem teachers groom ‘foot soldiers,’ justice served to anti-Israel group
ACTIVISM TAUGHT: Inside teachers’ union May Day ‘dress rehearsal’ critics warn will ‘groom’ students into Dem ‘foot soldiers’ CAMPUS CRACKDOWN: Duke suspends Students for Justice in Palestine following complaints over antisemitic Instagram post SIGN UP TO GET THE CAMPUS RADICALS NEWSLETTER LEFTIST RHETORIC: Far-left streamer Hasan Piker warns ‘American empire’ will inevitably fall, likely in violent fashion
RFK Jr clashes with Dem lawmaker over Trump’s mental fitness in heated exchange
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended comments about President Donald Trump‘s mental health following a tense exchange during a congressional hearing. During Friday’s hearing, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) addressed Trump’s recent social media posts, pointing to an AI-generated image that critics said depicted him as Jesus Christ and his criticism of Pope Leo as evidence he is mentally unwell. “Millions of Americans are questioning this president’s mental fitness, his emotional stability, and whether he can carry out the duties of his office. Do you share their concerns about his mental health?” Takano asked Kennedy. Kennedy began to answer, saying, “I call your attention to…” before the representative cut him off and demanded a more direct response. SEN BERNIE SANDERS CALLS ON RFK JR TO RESIGN FOLLOWING DEPARTURE OF CDC OFFICIALS “Mr. Secretary, my question was: Do you share their concerns about his mental health?” Takano reiterated. “We need a leader that we know has full command of his mental faculties and is emotionally stable as he sends uniformed American men and women into harm’s way.” “Millions of Americans are now wondering if this president is delusional and thinks he is Jesus Christ,” he continued. “Mr. Secretary, given everything that I’ve shown you today, will you insist that President Trump undergo an assessment of his mental fitness and his emotional stability?” “Absolutely not,” Kennedy quickly interjected. RFK JR AND TOP DEM CLASH DURING HEATED SENATE HEARING: ‘THIS IS ABOUT KIDS’ Takano followed up by asking whether Kennedy would support invoking the 25th Amendment, which allows for a transfer of power if the president dies, resigns, or is incapacitated. “There hasn’t been a president who is more sane or stable …” Kennedy began to answer before the congressman interrupted him again. “Mr. Secretary, my question is would you vote to invoke the 25th Amendment,” Takano said. TRUMP STANDS BY RFK JR. AFTER HEATED SENATE HEARING: ‘I LIKE THE FACT THAT HE’S DIFFERENT’ The heated exchange came one day after Kennedy engaged in a shouting match with Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., over previous comments he made about Black children. “Mr. Secretary, you’ve already admitted that you are not a board-certified physician, and you’ve already admitted you did not go to medical school. Have you ever reparented or parented, I should say, a Black child?” Sewell said, referencing his appearance on a 2024 podcast. As the two argued back and forth, Kennedy claimed he never made those remarks and refused to answer her question. The exchanges mark a pattern of escalating confrontations as Kennedy faces continued scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers. Fox News Digital’s Elaine Mallon contributed to this report.
Gold Star father says prior Afghanistan review smelled ‘like a cover-up’ as new look examines millions of docs
Gold Star father Darin Hoover says a new Pentagon review of the deadly Abbey Gate bombing finally feels different after years of what he described as “crickets” from the Biden administration — but he is still asking whether critical information was deliberately kept from military families and the public. Hoover, whose son, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin “Taylor” Hoover, was among the 13 U.S. service members killed in the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing during the Afghanistan withdrawal, told Fox News Digital that for years families got little more than a “canned” response. “For the first three-and-a-half years… we weren’t getting anything from the prior administration. It was crickets,” Hoover said. “The only thing we all got was a canned letter saying how sorry they were. There was not anything individual mentioned about any of the kids.” Former President Joe Biden checked his watch during the dignified transfer of U.S. service members lost at Abbey Gate, which included 11 Marines, one Army soldier and one Navy sailor. WATCH: PRESIDENT TRUMP REVEALS FAMILIES OF SLAIN US SERVICE MEMBERS URGED HIM ‘FINISH THE JOB’ His frustration comes as the Pentagon’s Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel says it has completed the substantive phase of interviews with senior military and civilian leaders, and is now preparing findings and recommendations for a final report expected “in the coming months.” The panel reviewed more than nine million documents, according to chairman Sean Parnell. By contrast, a prior Pentagon review examined roughly 3,000 documents. Parnell said the earlier review was “significantly narrower in scope” and “over-classified at the highest levels, which effectively kept the most critical and relevant information from public scrutiny.” That contrast is exactly what has Hoover demanding answers. “The 3,000 pages… doesn’t even make a ripple,” Hoover said. “Now we’ve got over a million pages being reviewed. Why was everything so top-secret that none of us could see it? They owe us the answers.” OUR FALLEN HEROES’ FAMILIES DESERVE MORE THAN OUTDATED SURVIVOR BENEFITS Asked directly whether he believes key information was withheld, Hoover did not hesitate. “Yes, absolutely, information was kept from us,” he said. “That smells exactly like a cover-up,” he added. “What is it that they saw, or what did they feel needed to be hidden so nobody could know what it was?” A Pentagon spokesperson referred Fox News Digital to a statement from Parnell when asked for comment. In that statement, Parnell said the panel was established by War Secretary Pete Hegseth at the direction of President Donald Trump “to conduct the most comprehensive military after action review in modern history.” MEDAL OF HONOR FOR STAFF SGT MICHAEL OLLIS AFTER 13 YEARS BRINGS BITTERSWEET ‘VALIDATION,’ SISTER SAYS He said the panel has interviewed key figures involved in the planning and execution of the withdrawal, including retired Gen. Mark Milley and retired Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr., among other senior officials. “This will be the most thorough, transparent, and honest accounting the American people have received of what happened in August 2021,” Parnell said. “Our purpose is to identify failures in decision-making, so that we may prevent the United States from ever repeating this tragedy.” Hoover said accountability should mean real consequences for those in command if the new review finds failures. “If they did something wrong or failed to act, they should no longer be allowed to lead where life and death is at stake,” he said. “I would love to see pensions taken away… and if possible, I’d love to see people go to jail,” he added. TRUMP CALLS FAMILY OF STAFF SGT OLLIS TO CONFIRM MEDAL OF HONOR AWARD He also argued the bombing exposed a broader system failure between civilian and military agencies. “The right hand didn’t know what the left hand was doing,” Hoover said. “And it all got stalled somewhere in the middle.” Other official reviews have previously documented breakdowns surrounding the withdrawal. A State Department review found failures in crisis planning and preparation for worst-case scenarios, while Milley later described the evacuation timeline as “too slow and too late.” Hoover said what makes this moment different is President Trump’s engagement with the families and Hegseth’s promise of a broader accounting. “He spent 45 minutes with us… gave us his full undivided attention,” Hoover said. He added that after years of silence, simply being included now matters. Hoover noted that the trial of the ISIS-K-linked figure accused of giving the final approval for the bomber to detonate is set to begin Monday in Alexandria, and some of the Abbey Gate families plan to attend. “We’re coming up on Memorial Day,” Hoover said. “Please, please, please remember them. Honor them. Don’t forget how we got here, why we got here and live a life worthy of the sacrifices that have been made.”
Trump says first releases from Pentagon UFO study will come out ‘very, very soon’ after Phoenix rally tease
President Donald Trump said the first releases from a Pentagon study on UFOs will come out “very, very soon.” Speaking at a rally at Dream City Church in north Phoenix on Friday night hosted by Turning Point USA and Turning Action, Trump told the audience it seemed like the right crowd to hear about the study because Arizonans are “really into that.” The comments come as interest in unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs, continues to grow in Washington, with lawmakers pushing for greater transparency and the Department of Defense expanding efforts to investigate unexplained incidents. “I figured this was a good crowd because I know you people. You’re really into that. I don’t know if I am,” the president told them. UFO TASK FORCE EYED AS LAWMAKER WARNS OF STRANGE OBJECTS IN SKIES AND WATERS DEFYING KNOWN TECHNOLOGY He said he recently spoke with War Secretary Pete Hegseth about releasing the study’s findings to the public before giving the crowd a brief tease of what he saw. “We found many very interesting documents, I must say,” Trump said. “And the first releases will begin very, very soon. So, you can go out and see if that phenomenon is correct. “You’ll figure it out. Let me know,” he added. “But we’ve had a lot of questions. It’s something that — it really captivates the mind, there’s no question about it.” EXPLOSIVE NEW DOCUMENTARY PROBES ’80-YEAR GLOBAL COVERUP’ OF UFO SECRETS Trump said in February he would direct the release of government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life and unidentified aerial phenomena. The president said at the time there was “tremendous interest” in the topic following remarks from former President Barack Obama, whom Trump said shared classified information suggesting aliens are real. “Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “GOD BLESS AMERICA!” Interest in UAPs has grown significantly in recent years, attracting increased scrutiny from federal lawmakers and defense officials. In 2023, Congress enacted the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act, while the Department of Defense created the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office to investigate these incidents more thoroughly. Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.