Shou Chew, the CEO of TikTok, has testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the first time, facing questions over TikTok's relationship with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and its handling of sensitive US user data. Chew denied allegations that TikTok shares user data with the Chinese government, and insisted that the app is not available in mainland China. He also expressed support for Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which provides liability protection for social media platforms. Lawmakers continue to voice concerns over TikTok's alleged links to the Chinese government and the potential national security risks posed by the app. TikTok has been working to secure its future in the US, one of its largest markets, where it claims to have 150 million users.

Following a shooting at Denver East High School on Wednesday, Mayor Michael Hancock is urging for resource officers to return to schools. The incident has reignited the debate over security measures to protect teachers and students. The man who carried out the attack was a 17-year-old student who was being searched for weapons as part of a safety plan the school put in place after the student had behavioural issues. The school resource officers were removed from Denver schools in 2020 to cater for concerns over their close proximity to students and the school-to-prison pipeline. However, the Denver mayor is calling for the return of the officers to manage situations like the one at Denver East High School. Police Chief Ron Thomas is also advocating for school resource officers to return and has said he is ready to provide those officers for the remainder of the year. The school district is currently eliminating classes across the district on Friday in support of its students and staff members to focus on mental health after the event.

President Joe Biden has issued his first veto by preserving a Labor Department rule that allows retirement fund managers to consider climate change and social criteria when making investments. This move has created a debate over the use environmental, social, and governance (ESG) guidelines in retirement fund investments. While ESG had been buzzing in the past decade, recent finance research suggests that such investments produce lower returns compared to traditional investments, which could account for a decline in investment interest in the US. However, supporters of ESG argue that it favors climate-friendly or socially conscious firms, justifying a higher social return, but critics claim the goal of retirement accounts is to secure the most money possible for retirees. Biden justified his veto by saying that retirement plan fiduciaries should be able to consider any factor that maximizes financial returns for retirees. House Republicans' efforts to override his veto failed, and the debate over ESG guidelines in investment is still ongoing.

On March 22, a powerful tornado hit Montebello, California, and a teacher at Vail High School was captured being sucked out of her classroom in a cell phone video. The teacher had opened the door after her students informed her that someone had run outside, at which point the wind blew the door open and pulled her off her feet, sucking her outside. Fortunately, a high school senior came to her rescue, and she sustained only minor injuries. This was the strongest tornado to hit the Los Angeles metro area since 1983, and the National Weather Service rated it as EF1, with winds of 110 mph, which made it the strongest tornado recorded in the region since 1983. The tornado wreaked havoc, damaging 17 buildings in an industrial warehouse and commercial business district. An HVAC unit was ejected from the top of one building, and one building suffered complete roof collapse. Additionally, the tornado damaged multiple cars and uprooted a large pine tree. Tornados are rare in California, but this twister was the second to hit the Golden State within 24 hours. It damaged around 25 mobile homes near Santa Barbara, which was confirmed by NWS. This tornado was part of a series of severe weather events in California in recent weeks, including rare blizzards and catastrophic flooding.

Six road construction workers were killed in a crash on the Baltimore Beltway in Woodlawn, Wednesday afternoon. The fatalities occurred when a 2017 Acura TLX entered a work zone and hit the workers, then overturned. The identities of the six victims have been released, and police are still investigating the cause of the crash. While there might be a second vehicle involved, the driver of the Acura appears to have lost control of the vehicle for reasons that are so far unknown.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with helicopters arriving at the scene to transport victims to the hospital. In addition to the tragic loss of life, the accident traffic caused major traffic delays and road closures.

Some officials are calling for stricter safety measures to protect road workers. This accident highlights the danger construction workers face as they attempt to make necessary repairs to roadways. Until the investigation reveals more information, we can only speculate on what caused this collision, but it serves as a stark reminder to all drivers to slow down in work zones, prevent distracted driving, and stay alert on the road.

In response to a drone attack on a US base in northeast Syria that resulted in the death of a US contractor and injured six others, including five US service members, the US military carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed groups in eastern Syria on Thursday. The Pentagon confirmed that the one-way attack drone used was Iranian in origin. President Biden authorized the strikes, which were conducted by US Central Command forces in facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III stated that "no group will strike our troops with impunity." The US has around 900 troops in eastern Syria assisting Kurdish forces in preventing a resurgence of ISIS. The airstrikes were designed to limit the risk of escalation and minimize casualties, and the US has stated that it will continue to take all necessary measures to defend its people. Two of the injured soldiers were treated on-site, while the others were evacuated to medical facilities in Iraq.

The grand jury investigating alleged hush-money payments made by former President Donald J. Trump will not make an indictment until next week at the earliest. The grand jury typically does not consider the case on Thursdays and does not meet on Fridays. According to a person with knowledge of the matter, Alvin L. Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney, has been devoting time to questioning witnesses about Trump's role in the payment to the porn star, Stormy Daniels, which indicates that prosecutors are nearing an indictment. Nonetheless, the exact timing of any charges remains unknown. Although the special grand jury hearing evidence about Mr. Trump meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, it typically does not hear evidence about the Trump case on Thursdays, according to the person with knowledge of the matter. Scheduling testimony could cause a brief delay in the proceedings. It is unclear whether Mr. Bragg's office has completed its presentation of evidence to the grand jury or if another witness will still testify. The grand jury is expected to vote on whether to bring an indictment in the hush-money case. According to former assistant district attorney Jeremy Saland, the grand jury proceedings were canceled on Wednesday to address case details carefully, such as testimony that wasn't able to be brought in.

Although Ronda Rousey's planned Women's Tag Team title match at WrestleMania 39 has been cancelled, reports suggest that she will still be part of the event in a different match. According to Dave Meltzer, the fighter is still on for the PPV and may make an appearance in a separate bout. WrestleVotes has commented that two Four Way Tag Team Matches are expected at the event, one for male teams and one for female teams. No names for the female participation have been released yet. Current champions for the tag team competition are Lita and Becky Lynch, who alongside Trish Stratus, will team up against Damage CTRL in a six-woman tag team match. The event is set to be held over the evenings of the 1st and 2nd of April in California's SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

The celebrations continue in Argentina as they beat Panama 2-0 in a friendly with goals from Thiago Almada and captain Lionel Messi at the Monumental Stadium. This was their first match in Argentina after winning the World Cup in December. A dominant Argentina couldn't break through the Panamanian defence until the 79th minute when Almada capitalised on a rebound following a free kick by Messi. In the 89th minute, Messi doubled the lead with his 800th career goal, a brilliant free kick into the top-right corner.

After the final whistle, the party got started, with fans cheering on their champion side, who hoisted replica World Cup trophies. Messi and his teammates were joined on the pitch by family members and children with fireworks exploding in the background.

Argentina will continue their World Cup winners' homecoming with a friendly against Curacao on Tuesday, and fans are eagerly waiting for Messi to score his 100th goal for his country. On a less positive note, it remains to be seen whether Paulo Dybala's recent injury will affect his status for the coming days.

Diego Cocca, the new coach of the Mexican National Team, will lead his team on Thursday against Suriname in the Concacaf Nations League, aiming to claim the top spot in Group A. With a draw at least, Mexico could secure a place in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. However, Suriname is still in the hunt for an automatic berth to the Gold Cup and needs to win by a considerable margin of victory, along with a Jamaica win in Mexico on the final matchday.

Mexico's performance in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where they failed to advance from the group stage, has led to high expectations from fans. Cocca has called 34 players to face the Nations League matches against Suriname and Jamaica. The team's debut match against Suriname will also mark the debut of Cocca as a head coach.

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, the most-capped goalkeeper in Mexico's history, will be absent in the first game. Cocca chose to take a group of mainly Mexico-based players to Paramaribo for Thursday's game, leaving Ochoa to prepare for the home Nations League encounter with Jamaica on Sunday. Santos Laguna's Carlos Acevedo or Tijuana's Jose Antonio Rodriguez will start in goal against Suriname, with Acevedo likely to get the nod due to his international experience.

OKC's young forward, Aleksej Pokusevski, recently made his return to the basketball court after missing two and a half months due to a leg injury. He played for the G League's Oklahoma City Blue for the past few games and made quite an impact, with a dominant performance against the Texas Legends on Sunday, scoring 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and recording eight rebounds and seven assists. Despite his low shooting efficiency in his first game back, Pokusevski has shown that he still possesses excellent passing and rebounding skills on the court.

The OKC Thunder's decision to send him to the G League helped him ramp up his return-to-play plan, so it's only a matter of time before he returns to the NBA club's frontcourt rotation. Though he may not handle a consistent enough role to warrant much attention outside the deepest of fantasy leagues, the young player's potential NBA success will depend on how well he can translate his skills from the G League to the NBA. With the Thunder looking to rebuild, they will be hoping that he can further develop his impressive all-around game to contribute to the team's long-term success.

Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier left Thursday night's game early against the New Orleans Pelicans after suffering from right foot discomfort. Rozier played over nine minutes and contributed five points, four boards, two assists, and a steal before being subbed out late in the first quarter. The Hornets announced on Twitter that Rozier is considered doubtful to return. Rozier had been a consistent presence in the court for the Hornets this season, playing 63 out of 74 games with only one missed game since December. He took on a heightened role since Lamelo Ball was ruled out later in February, averaging career highs in minutes, points, and assists with 21.4 points per game and five assists. If Rozier misses additional games due to his foot injury, this would leave a hole in the Hornets’ backcourt, who already had a thin lineup. Bryce McGowens, Dennis Smith Jr., and Svi Mykhailiuk would likely receive more playing time with Rozier sidelined. Fantasy managers still await another update on Rozier's status.

As the CEO of TikTok prepares to testify before Congress on Thursday about security and privacy concerns, the popular short-video app’s future in the US remains uncertain. The Biden administration has demanded that the Chinese-owned app be sold or else face a national ban due to national security risks. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, relies on Chinese government approval to operate, and concerns have been mounting around TikTok's alarming history around user data protection. A class-action lawsuit, which contends that the app sends private, personally identifiable data and biometrics to third parties without user consent, settled for one of the largest payouts in the history of privacy lawsuits ($92 million) in 2021. The FBI and Justice Department are also investigating ByteDance for using the app to surveil American citizens, including journalists. Although the US, UK, Canada, and European Union have already banned TikTok on government devices, the app remains extremely popular, counting more than 150 million active monthly users in the US alone. However, banning the app raises significant 1st Amendment concerns, and TikTok has already survived a previous ban attempt by the US government.

In a swift ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected former President Donald Trump's efforts to block a lower court order that his lawyer, Evan Corcoran, immediately turn over documents subpoenaed by Special Counsel Jack Smith's grand jury in relation to potential national security law violations and obstruction of justice. The documents subpoenaed by the grand jury include attorney notes of conversations between Corcoran and Trump, as well as audio files.

Reports suggest that Trump instructed Corcoran in June 2022 to give a false sworn affidavit to the Justice Department, claiming that no further classified documents responsive to the grand jury's May 2022 subpoena remained at Mar-a-Lago, where Trump had previously kept more than 100 classified documents. However, a court-authorized search of Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 revealed the falsity of the affidavit.

The appellate court decision underscores the peril facing the former president in the ongoing investigation as prosecutors continue to build a case that Trump obstructed efforts by the government to reclaim classified material and that he may have misled his own lawyer. The judicial impatience with the defendant and the swift rejection of Trump's unsound delaying tactics may signal a trend in the coming cases against Trump, making it difficult for him to delay justice being served.

With the possibility of an unprecedented indictment of a former president looming, congressional interference with a state prosecution of Donald Trump has already begun. Recently, Republican House Representatives demanded documents and testimony from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg before the weaponization of the federal government subcommittee panel. Bragg has been investigating Trump's potential involvement in the falsification of business records and a $130,000 payment made on his behalf to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

In response, Leslie Dubeck, the general counsel for Bragg's office, told the GOP committee chairmen that their demands would reveal "non-public information about a pending criminal investigation, which is confidential under state law." She called their demands an "unlawful incursion into New York's sovereignty," citing historical precedent and Supreme Court opinions about the division of state and federal authority.

The use of congressional investigation powers to engage in law enforcement is illegal. While the Constitution is silent on Congress's power to conduct investigations, it has been understood since the very first Congress that the legislative body has implied powers within Article I, but the bounds of those powers have been a topic of debate. The Supreme Court has noted that Congress's power to obtain information is "broad" and "indispensable," but it also stated that this power has limitations, and subpoenas should not be overly burdensome to enforce.

If the House committee chairmen move to issue a subpoena demanding Bragg appear in Washington, they will be viewed as meddling in the prosecution that is both brazenly partisan and probably illegal.

President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have reached an agreement that will allow both countries to turn back asylum seekers at their borders to counter the surge of illegal immigration. The deal will permit Canada to send immigrants back at Roxham Road, an unofficial crossing point from New York, for those seeking asylum in Canada. In turn, Canada will provide a new refugee program for 15,000 migrants suffering violence, persecution, and economic devastation in South and Central America, which could lessen the pressure of illegal crossings from Mexico to the US. Biden is currently visiting Ottawa, intending to highlight the solidarity of Canada and the US after four years of bitterness between Trudeau and former President Trump. Though the visit would also bring up complex issues, including governing the movement of people across the US-Canada border, the accord is expected to dissolve one of the crucial disputes between the two countries. This deal, however, is likely to spark outrage from refugee advocates who are already feeling frustrated with the current policies towards refugees.

TikTok faces yet another ban threat in the US. The Biden administration has demanded that the app be sold or face a nationwide ban due to security and privacy concerns. TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, testified before Congress on Thursday in light of the controversies surrounding the app’s ties to China and national security risks. TikTok has survived a previous ban attempt by the US government in 2020, but another ban threat raises significant 1st Amendment concerns. The effort was stopped by the federal courts, citing insufficient evidence on national security risks and the move exceeded the administration’s emergency economic powers. TikTok has been subject to increasing pressure on user data protection; a lawsuit contending that the app sends private, personally identifiable data and biometrics to third parties without user consent settled for $92 million in 2021. The FBI and Justice Department are currently investigating ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, for using the app to surveil American citizens. Despite numerous red flags, TikTok continues to outcompete top social media firms and remain popular in the US with more than 150 million active monthly users.

President Biden has vetoed a bill that would have prevented retirement fund managers from taking into account certain social factors such as climate impacts when making investment decisions. The bipartisan legislation sought to prevent managers from considering climate change ideology, instead of sound economics, when investing pension funds. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who voted against the adoption of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) Labor Department rule, stated that it "will weaken our energy, national and economic security while jeopardizing the hard-earned retirement savings of 150 million West Virginians and Americans." Outside of Capitol Hill, the lack of context in Biden's tweet promoting the veto was noticed. Only a minority of Republicans in the House and Senate supported the rule, while Democrats, including Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) opposed it.

House Republicans will try to overturn Biden's veto, however, it is unlikely to succeed, as it would require two-thirds of the lower chamber's support, a slim Republican majority, and Democratic support for it to advance to the Senate. The veto occurs amid debate on ESG investing, with some labeling it "woke capitalism" that targets certain companies, including those in the oil and gas industry, at the expense of investors. In contrast, supporters of ESG investing argue that it guides investment to issues that help society and reflects shifting trends.

During a spring training game against the Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins fell to the ground with a left knee injury while fielding a ground ball. He was then carted off of the field and will undergo further evaluation and testing. Despite initial concerns, there have been reports that Hoskins was walking around in the clubhouse after the game. Hoskins had previously undergone meniscus surgery in his right knee in December 2022, but had said the knee was a "non-issue" and wouldn't affect his season.

The timing of his left knee injury is concerning for Hoskins and the Phillies, as Hoskins just turned 30 and will be eligible for free agency after this season. He settled at $12 million in arbitration during the offseason. If Hoskins is unable to play, Darick Hall will likely take over as the everyday first baseman, and the Phillies may consider making a trade for another first base option. Hall is a power hitter with a 91.4 mph average exit velocity and 44.6% hard-hit rate, but struggled with a 31% strikeout rate in the majors last season. This injury is another blow for the Phillies, who are already without top pitching prospect Andrew Painter and slugger Bryce Harper, who isn't expected back until around the All-Star break after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November.

Hyundai and Kia have issued a recall of over 571,000 vehicles due to the risk of fire. The recall comes after it was found that their tow hitch can catch fire while parked or driven. The affected vehicles include 2019-2023 Santa Fe, 2022-2023 Santa Fe plug-in hybrid, 2022-2023 Santa Cruz, and 2022-2023 Carnival minivan models. The automakers have advised owners to park these vehicles outside and away from structures until repairs can be made. This is because water can get into the hitch's circuit board and cause a short circuit even when the cars are off. Although there has been one report of a fire and five incidents of heat damage involving Hyundais, there have been no reports of fires or injuries with Kias so far. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has requested dealers to complete repairs for free, and owners have been urged to contact their dealer to have the tow hitch computer and fuse removed until a new one is available. The new device will include a waterproof connector. Letters will be sent to owners in May with instructions on how to get their vehicles repaired.

Lance Reddick, the revered American actor known for his performances in The Wire, John Wick, and Oz, has passed away at 60. His publicist attributed Reddick's death to natural causes. David Simon, creator of The Wire, was among those paying tribute, saying on Twitter, "Could go on, but no, I can't go on. This is gutting. And way, way, way too soon."

In a career spanning three decades, Reddick was noted for his tall, taciturn and elegant portrayals, often in a suit or crisp uniform. Notable roles include Lt. Cedric Daniels from The Wire and Charon from the John Wick film franchise, for which it has been announced both Reeves and Stahelski have dedicated the fourth film to his memory. Beyond the small screen, Reddick had roles in Godzilla vs. Kong, White House Down, and was due to play Zeus in the upcoming

TikTok CEO, Shou Zi Chew, faced a rigorous five-hour hearing on Capitol Hill this week, as lawmakers questioned the app's risks to US national security. Chew assured lawmakers of TikTok's ability to protect American privacy, mentioning Project Texas, its risk-mitigation plan. However, lawmakers from both parties expressed concerns, drilling down on the company's links to China through its parent company, ByteDance. The hearing saw lawmakers grill Chew on the app's risks, including potential harm to kids through its addictive features and potentially dangerous posts. They also questioned whether US user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government. Chew's testimony failed to provide lawmakers with a sense of reassurance, raising more questions than answers.

TikTok's links to China have long been a cause for concern among US lawmakers, with calls for the app to be banned in the country due to perceived national security concerns. While TikTok acknowledges federal officials' demands for its Chinese owners to sell their stake, it maintains that it has become an essential part of American culture and is relied upon by creators and small business owners. TikTok is widely popular in the US, with over 150 million users, and was the top downloaded app in the country in both 2021 and 2022. However, despite its popularity, it remains to be seen whether TikTok can adequately address lawmakers' concerns about its national security risks.

Portugal will be looking to start their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign on a high when they face Liechtenstein in Lisbon on Thursday. Under new manager Roberto Martinez, the Portuguese team will hope to forget their World Cup disappointment and lackluster performances in recent months. Martinez replaced Fernando Santos after his quarterfinal exit in the 2022 World Cup, and his selection has raised eyebrows, given his struggles to get the best out of Belgium's stellar squad. Despite the quality players at his disposal, Portugal needs major improvement under its new boss. However, their opener against the group's bottom seeds should be a breeze, with Liechtenstein holding the dubious distinction of being the worst-performing side in the recent UEFA Nations League edition with zero points in League D. Portugal’s iconic striker Cristiano Ronaldo has been selected, and ex-Man United forward Joao Felix will join him. Liechtenstein ranked 198th in the world and is winless, with 11 losses in 13 games, making it an easy competitor for Portugal. Martinez, who will lead Portugal in his first game since being appointed, has named a strong squad for the qualifiers, including Ronaldo, and Pepe will not start the first two matches due to injury, but A Selecao has enough depth to make up for it.

Republican officials are accused of attempting to interfere with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of the possible indictment of former President Donald Trump. GOP Reps. Jim Jordan, Bryan Steil and James Comer sent a letter to Bragg requesting documents and testimony before the “weaponization of the federal government” subcommittee panel could take place. Analysts believe any move by Congress to interfere with a state prosecution would be viewed as meddling that is both brazenly partisan and probably unlawful. The Constitution itself doesn't cover the powers of Congress to engage in investigations, but it has always been understood that House lawmakers have such implied powers within Article I.

This isn't the first time GOP officials have sought to undermine prosecutors. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other politicians also attacked Bragg, accusing him of ignoring violent crime, despite crime rates in Manhattan having decreased in recent months. GOP lawmakers are accused of trying to deflect attention from Trump's alleged efforts to undermine American democracy, instead attacking Bragg and seeking to scrutinize his motives for prosecuting Trump. Analysts warn that any attempts by Congress to interfere with a state prosecution would be both brazenly partisan and most likely unlawful.

Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, is set to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding the popular video-sharing app owned by the Chinese company, ByteDance. This appearance comes at a vital time, with U.S. officials ramping up the pressure on TikTok's data security and user protection protocols. Although the app boasts 150 million American users, the U.S. government's scrutiny of TikTok's relationship with Beijing first began during Donald Trump's administration and has continued into the current administration.

Concerns over security have heightened tensions between the United States and China, with the U.S. urging that the app either be sold to an American company or banned. Although a ban is unlikely, experts fear that the app may be manipulated by the Chinese government and used as a propaganda tool against the American populace. Shou Zi Chew is expected to testify that selling TikTok to an American company would not address the national security concerns of American officials, although a sale would face further obstacles due to cost implications. This hearing may decide whether TikTok can continue to operate in the United States as one of its biggest markets or whether it will be banned altogether.