Several people have been shot at a parade in Franklinton, Louisiana, as reported by AZ Intel. Videos from the scene show a lot of chaos and confusion after the shooting happened. Right now, police have not shared any information about what exactly took place or how many people were hurt. This story is still developing, and we will provide more updates as we learn more.
Category: News
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US Army Kills Al-Qaeda Leaders in Syria: Airstrike Success!
The United States Army announced on Saturday that it conducted a successful airstrike that killed a high-ranking leader of the terrorist group Hurras al-Din in Northwest Syria. This attack happened in February, as confirmed by the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
On February 23, CENTCOM forces targeted Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, the senior military leader of Hurras al-Din, an organization linked to Al-Qaeda. The command explained that this airstrike is part of their ongoing efforts to stop terrorist groups from planning attacks against civilians and military members, including those from the US and its allies.
In a video shared on social media, you can see a car driving in an empty area. The airstrike hit the car directly at the driver’s seat, causing it to stop moving afterward. General Michael Erik Kurilla, the CENTCOM commander, stated, “We will keep pursuing these terrorists to protect our homeland and our partners in the region.”
CENTCOM oversees US military operations in the Middle East. Earlier this year, they also announced the elimination of another senior Hurras al-Din leader, Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar, on February 21 through a similar airstrike.
Interestingly, Hurras al-Din, which the US views as Al-Qaeda’s official group in Syria, announced its dissolution in January. This decision came after the Syrian regime led by President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebel forces in December 2024. The recent strikes against Hurras al-Din leaders occurred even after the group had disbanded.
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Israel Halts Gaza Aid: Hostages and Humanitarian Crisis Loom
Israel is facing strong criticism after it stopped sending food and supplies into Gaza. They also warned of “more consequences” for Hamas if a fragile ceasefire is not extended. Mediators from Egypt and Qatar accused Israel of breaking humanitarian laws by using starvation as a weapon.
Hamas rejected Israel’s terms to extend the Gaza ceasefire, calling their actions “a war crime” and an attack on a truce that took a year of hard negotiations to establish in January. During the first phase of the ceasefire, humanitarian aid had increased after months of hunger in Gaza.
The second phase might involve Hamas freeing dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for Israel pulling out of Gaza and agreeing to a lasting ceasefire. This phase’s negotiations should have started a month ago, but they haven’t begun yet.
Israel mentioned a new US proposal to extend the ceasefire through Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, and the Jewish Passover, which ends on April 20. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under this proposal, Hamas would release half of the hostages immediately, and the rest when a permanent ceasefire is reached. Currently, there are 59 hostages, with 35 believed to be dead.
The US did not comment immediately but Netanyahu stated that Israel is working closely with the Trump administration and that ceasefire will continue only if Hamas keeps releasing hostages.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said the ceasefire saved many lives and if things fall apart now, people will suffer again. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called Israel’s action “alarming” because international humanitarian law requires aid to be allowed in. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged everyone involved to work together to keep the peace in Gaza and to let aid flow back in while also releasing all hostages.
Five humanitarian groups asked Israel’s Supreme Court for permission to allow aid back into Gaza, saying stopping it breaks international laws that should not be influenced by politics. The war has made most of Gaza’s 2 million people rely on international aid, and before the recent halt, about 600 aid trucks were delivering supplies every day.
Residents expressed fear that prices will soar due to the closures. Fayza Nassar from the crowded Jabaliya refugee camp said this would worsen the already bad situation. “There will be famine and chaos,” she said.
Hamas warned that if the ceasefire agreement is delayed or canceled, it would have serious humanitarian effects on the hostages. They stated that the only way to free hostages is through the current deal. Families of the hostages stressed the urgency of the situation to the Israeli government, saying negotiations shouldn’t be postponed.
Throughout the war, Israel has been accused of blocking aid, imposing a siege on Gaza early on and facilitating only limited aid under US pressure. UN agencies and charity groups claim Israel has not allowed enough aid for 15 months. The International Criminal Court had previously stated there was reason to believe Israel used starvation as a weapon and even issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
Israel denied these claims, stating they provided enough aid and blamed shortages on problems with the UN’s distribution. They also accused Hamas of misusing aid, a claim repeated by Netanyahu.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed over 48,000 Palestinians, with many being women and children. This brutality began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in around 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages.
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Vice President Dhankhar Advocates for India’s Rich Linguistic Diversity
On Sunday, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar talked about how important it is to support the many languages of India. He asked if we should be fighting over languages in our beautiful country. While speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, he said that Indian languages are full of rich stories and knowledge.
He mentioned great old texts like the Vedas and the Mahabharata, showing how important they are. His comments come at a time when the Tamil Nadu government is against the National Education Policy (NEP), which wants students to learn three languages, including Hindi. Chief Minister MK Stalin said that forcing Hindi on everyone is hurting other 25 languages and is an effort to erase our linguistic variety.
Stalin mentioned that more than 25 languages in North India have suffered because of the push for Hindi and Sanskrit. He said the Dravidian movement has protected Tamil and its culture by raising awareness and holding protests.
The central government believes the NEP is meant to bring people together and help many languages thrive. But many in Tamil Nadu feel it’s trying to replace their language with Hindi. Dhankhar encouraged everyone to be proud of our classical languages and work to support them, noting their importance around the globe. He reminded people that in Parliament, translation happens in 22 languages!
He also pointed out that alumni can help create a strong education system and called on companies to invest more in research and development so India can compete globally.
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Benin Faces Rising Violence: Clashes Leave Ten Dead, Including Soldier
In the past week, there have been serious clashes in Benin between armed groups and the military, resulting in the deaths of ten people, including one soldier. This West African country is facing an increase in attacks on military positions, especially in the northern region, where poorer communities reside. These attacks are often blamed on jihadist groups from neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Niger.
Recently, the army conducted an operation that reportedly killed nine armed attackers. This action came after a soldier died, and two others were hurt by an explosive device in a nearby area. Although the southern city of Cotonou continues to attract international tourists, the northern parts of Benin have seen more violence.
The violence near the Niger border has become more frequent, raising concerns about safety in the region. A local military officer mentioned successful operations that destroyed an important base used by these armed groups.
For years, regions in Burkina Faso and Niger have faced threats from groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, taking advantage of local tensions and weak government presence. Earlier this year, six Beninese soldiers were killed in an attack, and in January 2022, Benin sent nearly 3,000 soldiers to patrol its borders. The United States and Benin recently signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation between their armed forces.
Experts warn that focusing heavily on military responses may not solve the deeper issues that help these groups recruit members.
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Israel Halts Gaza Supplies Amid Tensions Over Ceasefire Negotiations
On Sunday, Israel decided not to let any goods or supplies enter the Gaza Strip. They warned of “serious consequences” if Hamas, the group controlling Gaza, does not accept a new plan to extend a shaky ceasefire that started in January after many talks. Hamas accused Israel of trying to spoil the peace agreement, saying stopping the aid was “cheap extortion” and against the rules of the truce.
Both sides have not officially said the ceasefire is over yet. The first phase, which included sending more help to Gaza, ended on Saturday. They have not yet talked about what will happen next, where Hamas would release more hostages in return for Israel pulling back and a longer-lasting ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned that if the negotiations are not going well, Israel could start fighting again. He stated that Hamas must free hostages if they want the pause in fighting to continue. Israel also said they are working closely with the U.S. government on this issue.
The new U.S. proposal, shared by Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, suggests extending the ceasefire through Ramadan (the Muslim holy month that just began) and the Jewish holiday of Passover, which ends on April 20. The plan includes Hamas releasing half of the hostages on the first day and the rest when a complete peace agreement is reached.
Hamas warned that delaying or canceling the ceasefire could harm the hostages and said the only way to free them was by sticking to the original deal. This deal didn’t mention when all hostages would be released.
During the first ceasefire phase, Hamas freed 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. However, the truce has faced many problems, with both sides accusing each other of breaking the rules. Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of many Palestinians, with claims that some were in areas they shouldn’t have been.
International aid to Gaza has been a concern, as earlier, Israel completely closed off supplies during the war. Even with some easing due to U.S. pressure, there have been criticisms about not enough aid being sent. The situation in Gaza is very serious, with many people facing hunger.
The war started after Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Currently, 59 hostages are still held captive, with many of them believed to be dead. On the other hand, reports say that more than 48,000 Palestinians have died due to Israel’s military operations, many of them women and children.
The ongoing conflict has left most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people relying heavily on international aid for food and basic needs.
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Crack the NYT Mini Crossword: March 2, 2025 Hints & Answers
For many fans of puzzles, the NYT Mini Crossword has become a daily must-do, offering a quick and fun challenge. While The New York Times is famous for its big daily crossword, The Mini has found its own fans who love its shorter, clever puzzles. If you’re tackling today’s NYT Mini Crossword for Sunday, March 2, 2025, and you need some help, we’ve got you! Below are hints and answers for both Across and Down clues, but be careful if you want to solve it on your own!
Hints for NYT Mini Crossword – March 2, 2025
Let’s look at some hints that can help you figure out the puzzle without giving everything away:
Across Hints:
1. 1 Across: A character played by Timothée Chalamet in a movie. (Hint: Starts with D)
2. 6 Across: A makeup product for cheeks. (Hint: Ends with E)
3. 7 Across: A surprised or disappointed exclamation. (Hint: Starts with A)
4. 8 Across: A big fan of something. (Hint: Ends with D)
5. 9 Across: A word that rhymes with “stressed,” often talked about by students. (Hint: Starts with T)Down Hints:
1. 1 Down: How you call an email you forgot to send. (Hint: Ends with T)
2. 2 Down: An old-fashioned way to say ouch. (Hint: Starts with Y)
3. 3 Down: Sleds used in Olympic races. (Hint: Ends with S)
4. 4 Down: A person who helps a writer. (Hint: Starts with A)
5. 5 Down: Something really important. (Hint: Ends with D)Answers for NYT Mini Crossword – March 2, 2025
Are you ready to see the answers? If you want to solve it by yourself first, think about the hints!
Across Answers:
1. 1 Across: DYLAN – Timothée Chalamet played Bob Dylan.
2. 6 Across: ROUGE – A popular cheek color.
3. 7 Across: AWGEE – An expression of surprise.
4. 8 Across: FIEND – A big fan of something.
5. 9 Across: TEST – A word that rhymes with stressed.Down Answers:
1. 1 Down: DRAFT – When an email is not sent.
2. 2 Down: YOWIE – A shout of sudden pain.
3. 3 Down: LUGES – Sleds used in races.
4. 4 Down: AGENT – Someone who helps writers.
5. 5 Down: NEED – Something that is necessary. -
Trump Launches Probe into Cocaine Found Near Oval Office
In July 2023, some cocaine was found in a cabinet near the Oval Office. Donald Trump thinks it might belong to either Joe Biden or Hunter Biden, especially since the Biden family was at Camp David that weekend.
After the drug was discovered, there was a 11-day investigation to figure out where it came from. Trump said that experts should have found fingerprints, but it looked like someone tried to erase them.
He called the finding a “terrible thing” because those areas have many fingerprints on them. In an interview with Ben Domenech from The Spectator World, Trump said, “Those bins are very loaded up with fingerprints.” He claimed that the package of cocaine was cleaned off and “stone cold,” hinting that someone was trying to hide what happened.
Trump said he plans to dig deeper into the situation, stating that there were “bad things” going on in the White House and implied that the details were being kept secret.
The Secret Service mentioned that without any physical proof, the investigation can’t point to one person because so many people walk through where the cocaine was found.
As the conversation continued, Trump criticized the media, claiming that outlets like CNN and CBS were protecting Biden instead of holding him accountable. He specifically called out 60 Minutes and Jake Tapper from CNN for not doing their job.
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SNL’s Hilarious Trump and Zelensky Meeting Sketch
This weekend, “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) made fun of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which surprised many people around the world. James Austin Johnson played Trump, while Bowen Yang was Vice President JD Vance, and Mikey Day acted as Zelensky. A special surprise guest was Elon Musk, who was portrayed by Mike Myers.
The sketch started with a funny voiceover saying that Trump and Zelensky’s meeting went “really, really well,” making everyone feel safe and happy about the world. Trump introduced himself in a funny way, calling himself the “President and CEO of the Gaza Hotel and Casino” because he wanted to make that area a top vacation spot. He joked about trying to trap Zelensky, saying, “It’s going to be a big, beautiful trap.”
As the skit went on, “fake Trump” joked about Zelensky’s outfit, saying he dressed like a character from Star Trek. In reality, Zelensky wore a simple black outfit. During the meeting, Trump was nervous about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and made strange requests, like asking Zelensky to tell Putin he loves him.
SNL’s version showed Trump and Vance interrupting Zelensky a lot, which made it hard for him to speak. Vance said, “You haven’t said thank you for the last 15 seconds,” poking fun at their serious discussions.
At one point, “fake Trump” played a card game where he joked he had all the best cards like “skip” and “draw four.” He even made fun of visiting Ukraine, calling it a mess, but still acted like they should visit.
Then, Elon Musk showed up wearing a red chainsaw and a funny t-shirt, asking Trump, “What are you doing in my office?” Trump joked back that he felt “comfortable” around Musk. They also joked about firing employees and how they didn’t bother to learn who they were.
The funny sketch ended with Trump hinting at releasing some controversial “Epstein Files” soon, saying, “You will see all the names, from A to S. No T
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Elon Musk Welcomes Baby Seldon: Celebrating Family and Heritage
Elon Musk, the boss of Tesla and SpaceX, just welcomed his 14th child, a baby boy named Seldon Lycurgus. This is his fourth child with Shivon Zilis, an executive at Neuralink. Before this, they had twins named Strider and Azure, and a daughter named Arcadia.
Shivon Zilis has Indian roots as her mother is Punjabi, and she was born in Ontario, Canada. In a past interview, Shivon mentioned she looks mostly white but has some features from her Punjabi heritage, like her big eyes. Many people were surprised to learn that four of Elon Musk’s kids have Indian heritage through their mother.
Shivon shared the exciting news about Seldon on March 1, posting online that they felt it was the perfect time to announce their wonderful son. She described him as strong and loving. Elon reacted with a heart emoji in response to her post.
Shivon graduated from Yale University in 2008, with degrees in economics and philosophy. She has a successful career in tech and worked for companies like IBM and Bloomberg Beta. From 2017 to 2019, she was a project director at Tesla’s Autopilot team. Now, she is the director of operations at Neuralink, a company co-founded by Elon Musk.
Shivon and Elon first became parents in 2021 with their twins, Azure and Strider, followed by their daughter Arcadia. Recently, Shivon was with Elon when he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a visit to the U.S.