Author: Bijoy Daniel

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin promises the U.S. will keep supporting Ukraine’s war effort against Russia, even as the U.S. Congress remains stalled over funding for additional weapons. Austin and other defense leaders are meeting in Germany to discuss aid for Ukraine. The meeting comes a week after U.S. defense officials found and used $300 million in contract savings to fund a new package of military aid for Ukraine, pulling weapons from Pentagon stocks. It was the first tranche of weapons sent since December, even as battlefield conditions in Ukraine have been getting increasingly dire. Germany says it’ll provide $542 millions worth of ammunition and armored and transport vehicles to help Ukraine “against Russian aggression.”

‘It hasn’t been easy.’

A British newspaper states that Prince William and his wife Catherine were filmed at a farm shop near their Windsor home. This is the first reported footage of Kate since she underwent abdominal surgery for an unspecified condition two months ago. The Sun released a short clip late Monday that appeared to show the couple smiling as they walked together, carrying shopping bags. It said the footage was taken on Saturday. The couple’s Kensington Palace office did not provide a comment. The palace has stated that Kate will return to official duties after Easter, likely once her children go back to school on April 17. There has been intense and sometimes unrealistic speculation about Kate’s condition during her absence.

The Thai Foreign Ministry today downplayed reports that Japan might cancel visa-free privileges for Thai tourists because more Thais are staying past their visa expiration dates….

An unexpected departure.

‘That is not a Bond.’

A former Mississippi sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to about 20 years in prison for his part in torturing two Black men. Hunter Elward was sentenced Tuesday by a federal judge. Five other former law enforcement officers are set for sentencing this week. One more will be sentenced Tuesday, while two will be sentenced on Wednesday and two others on Thursday. All six of the former officers pleaded guilty to several federal charges in August. They admitted subjecting Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker to numerous acts of racist torture last year. Elward admitted to shoving a gun into Jenkins’ mouth and firing in a “mock execution” that went awry.

Former President Donald Trump's selections have secured two important victories in Ohio that could impact the Republicans' chances for crucial wins this autumn. In the intense and costly primary to challenge Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, voters on Tuesday selected Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno over state Sen. Matt Dolan and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. In northwest Ohio, state Rep. Derek Merrin succeeded over former state Rep. Craig Riedel a day after Trump endorsed him. Merrin will compete against longtime U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur in the upcoming election. Brown and Kaptur are considered among the most vulnerable Democrats this year.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. supported Republican-backed lawsuits against the White House over social media censorship on Tuesday, claiming President Biden also attempted to censor his social media posts. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments for two social media cases Tuesday, which claim the Biden White House illegally coerced social media companies to…

The Chicago Cubs announced one of their most important offseason decisions Monday, naming John Steinmiller, previously with the Blackhawks, as their new senior director of media relations. It’ s not exactly bringing back Cody Bellinger, but it’ s newsworthy, and that counts for something during this Cubs offseason, where President Jed Hoyer has been biding his time…