On Wednesday, Russia held a U.N. Security Council meeting on the fate of thousands of missing Ukrainian children as it took over the presidency of the Council for April. Western diplomats, however, said that what transpired at the meeting was a show of misinformation where it accused the West of abducting Ukrainian children, a crime for which it has been taken to the International Criminal Court of Justice. More than 50 countries came together to deride the event as an example of how Russia abuses its power as a permanent member of the Security Council to spread falsehoods. Russia's ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, also spread misinformation by accusing the United States of forcibly transferring Vietnamese children post-Vietnam War, thereby labeling its actions as a 'righteous cause'. Among the speakers who were invited to address the gathering was Maria Lvova-Belova, the head of Russia’s child protection agency, who has arrest warrants against her and President Vladimir V. Putin for their roles in relocating missing Ukrainian children to Russia. The alternative narratives and the dissemination of misinformation during sensitive and distressing issues only raise concerns over the motives and tactics of a permanent member of the Security Council.

Democratic lawmakers are pushing for stricter ethics rules for the Supreme Court after Justice Clarence Thomas allegedly accepted gifts and favors from a major conservative donor, Harlan Crow for almost 20 years. ProPublica reported that Justice Thomas did not disclose luxury vacations he took with Crow. These included stays on Crow’s yacht, and flights on his private jet. They also included visits to Crow’s all-male, private retreat in California. The friendship between Thomas and Crow goes back to the 1990s, and has raised concerns because of Virginia Thomas, Thomas’ wife's political activities. Crow has funded projects in Thomas' name and donated to causes led by Virginia Thomas, who has organised for a Tea Party-related group. Questions over conflict of interest have followed Thomas for years due to his wife's political activism, leading Democrats to push for tighter ethics rules for the Supreme Court.Ironically, the United States Supreme Court is the only branch in which there are no ethics rules. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democratic Senator from Rhode Island, said: “The fact that there’s no way to get an independent internal investigation of a justice is how Justice Thomas has been able to get away with all these reporting failures."

The US Supreme Court denied West Virginia's request to lift a ruling that banned the state's law prohibiting transgender girls from playing on female sports teams on public school campuses. The said law, passed in 2021, dictates sports teams at state schools based on "biological sex" and forbids male students from joining female sports teams "based solely on the individual's reproductive biology and genetics at birth." Two conservative justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, dissented from the decision. The case was filed by a 12-year-old transgender girl and her mother, who argued that the law discriminates based on sex and transgender status in breach of the US Constitution's equal protection under the law and the Title IX civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. The administration of President Joe Biden proposed a rule change on Thursday, forbidding schools and universities from banning transgender athletes from teams that align with their gender identities. However, there will be exceptions for fairness in competition and other circumstances that could lead to sports-related injuries. The proposed rules shall undergo a period of public comment before its approval.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the GOP chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the Biden administration for dismissing the claims that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan was turbulent and for putting blame on the Trump administration for unfavorable conditions for the pullout. According to McCaul, the comments by the White House spokesperson on national security issues, John Kirby, were disgraceful and distasteful. McCaul said that President Biden made the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and is to be held accountable for failure in planning and execution. On the same day, the White House released a 12-page report blaming the Trump administration largely for the issues that arose during the withdrawal. The report also admitted the need to apply relevant lessons for future operations. McCaul, who is currently heading a congressional delegation in Taiwan, encouraged the Biden administration to declassify as many review documents as possible. He added that he eagerly anticipates the report and Congress’ access to the full record of documents to obtain answers behind the chaos that occurred during the withdrawal.

Bob Lee, a tech pioneer and former chief product officer of MobileCoin, was killed in a violent stabbing incident in San Francisco on Tuesday morning. Lee dropped out of St Louis University and went on to become a well-known engineer and software developer who contributed to digital tools such as Google’s Android and the Cash App. In 2021, he took on the role of chief product officer of MobileCoin with the aim of providing hundreds of millions of unbanked people worldwide with democratised access to digital cash. As of now, there is no information about a motive or suspect/s behind his tragic death. The police have confirmed that they are investigating the incident, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed has expressed condolences in a statement, emphasizing her commitment to prioritizing safety in the city. However, with 12 homicides reported in San Francisco so far this year, Mayor Breed is facing criticism for not doing enough to tackle violent crime in the city.

More than 30 rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel on Thursday, marking the biggest rocket attack since the 2006 war between the two countries which left 1,200 Lebanese people and 165 Israelis dead. The Israeli military assumed that Palestinian groups were behind it as rising tensions have followed Israeli police raids at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Exact details on the perpetrators remain murky, with the Lebanese army stating they have no information to release publicly yet and Hezbollah refusing to release any comments. Hamas, the Islamic group that controls the Gaza Strip, has been blamed by the Israeli military, but three non-Israeli security sources have argued that Palestinian factions, not Hezbollah, are thought to be accountable for the rocket fire though it is widely assumed that Hezbollah would have to have given their approval. The lack of clarity surrounding the perpetrators has left Israel under pressure to come up with a response to the attack, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set to hold a meeting of the security cabinet imminently.

The judge overseeing the criminal case against former President Donald Trump has received dozens of threats in the form of harassing calls and emailed death threats, according to police sources. Judge Juan Merchan previously oversaw the tax fraud trial of the Trump Organization that ended in a conviction. Most of the threats against Merchan have been alarming and the number of threats has significantly increased over the last few days. The unsubstantiated threats have also been received by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and other top officials in his office. As a precaution, the presiding judge and court are being provided with additional protective measures by court security officers as well as an extra security detail assigned to Bragg's office. Nonetheless, the details of the threats remain unclear and investigations into the matter continue. This incident occurred after Trump pleaded not guilty in connection with a 34-count grand jury indictment stemming from a series of hush money payments allegedly made on his behalf. The 76-year-old Trump also faces separate criminal investigations in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.

As Tulare Lake refills with floodwater due to heavy snowmelt, concerns are rising for neighbors of the Tulare Lake Compost Facility near Kettleman City. The Los Angeles County Sanitation District owned facility is surrounded by about 14,000 acres of land for farming that will protect it from any water, though the facility itself was built five feet higher from the surrounding land. There is also a levee between the Tulare Lake bottom and the property surrounding the facility. The facility has already allowed the county to pump some water onto their farmland and expects more in the coming weeks due to the amount of snowmelt. Nevertheless, Bryan Langpap of the Sanitation District says any water they receive will remain in their farming operation, while they are receiving reduced compost materials. The piles outside the facility are already safe and the microbes remaining therein are nutrient-rich soil. Officials worry that the floodwaters may reach the compost facility, yet owners guarantee that they’re ready to face it.

Former President Donald Trump's inflammatory statements may result in a gag order in his New York trial on 34 felony counts, legal experts suggested. During his arraignment, Judge Juan Merchan instructed Trump's legal team and the prosecutors to avoid making statements that could encourage violence and civil unrest. But late on Tuesday, the ex-president insulted Merchan, his family, Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg and others, risking a possible penalty. Legal minds wondered when the ex-president might cross the line with his rhetoric. There is no court that would want to impose a gag order on a US president, said J. Michael Luttig, a former federal judge and lawyer. But if Trump forces Manhattan criminal court, the latter might have no choice. 

Judge Merchan, his family, and the Manhattan court have already received multiple threats since Trump's arraignment, two sources stated. These come in various forms such as calls, emails, and letters, and are now being taken seriously in terms of security measures by the New York police detail assigned to the DA's office and the court.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Twitter, has caused controversy by labeling National Public Radio (NPR) a 'state-affiliated media' outlet on the social media platform. The tag is intended for media organizations with editorial content controlled by a state, but NPR maintains it operates independently of government. After NPR provided proof that less than 1% of funding comes from government sources, Musk questioned whether Twitter had been consistent in labeling other non-US accounts. His comments are the latest in several moves that have caused upset among journalists and free press advocates. Musk has previously stripped The New York Times of its blue check verification, suspended accounts of journalists and responded with a poop emoji to communications from reporters. Twitter's decision to label NPR has been viewed as undermining public confidence in reliable news sources.

The Florida Panthers had a historic regular season last year, winning the Presidents Trophy. But their playoff run was short-lived, as they were swept in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Looking to add some grit and toughness, the Panthers traded Jonathan Huberdeau for Matthew Tkachuk in the offseason. While Tkachuk has had an outstanding season, putting up back-to-back 100+ point seasons, it's unclear if he alone can bring the necessary grit to the team.

Former player Keith Tkachuk, Matthew's father, recently criticized the Panthers on TSN Radio, calling them soft and suggesting that they lack heart compared to other teams like the Ottawa Senators. While Keith's comments may have been harsh, they raise a valid point about the Panthers' ability to handle playoff hockey.

Currently sitting in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Panthers have two weeks left in the regular season to solidify their playoff position. Tkachuk may be their MVP and a key contributor, but the team will need to show more grit and toughness if they hope to make a deep playoff run this year.

Two earthquakes struck Oklahoma early Thursday morning, with the epicenter located in Lincoln County. The first quake registered as a 4.2 magnitude but was later revised to a 4.0 magnitude by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It began at 3:57 a.m. and was followed by a 3.3 magnitude quake just 20 minutes later. The epicenter of both earthquakes was located a few miles east of Carney, Oklahoma. Despite being felt across the state, there have been no reports of damage so far.

Residents in neighboring states, such as Arkansas, also felt the tremors. The National Weather Service office in Tulsa reported feeling the quake, but at the time, the magnitude was unknown. USGS has reported a total of twelve earthquakes in Oklahoma within the last 24 hours, with the largest being the 4.0 magnitude quake. The USGS has also stated that earthquakes with magnitudes of three or higher can cause damage to structures, so residents are encouraged to stay alert and prepared in case of further activity.

Ryan O'Reilly of the Toronto Maple Leafs is ready to make his return on Thursday after a month off due to a broken finger. O'Reilly was acquired from the St. Louis Blues last week and figures to be a vital addition to the team should they make it to the playoffs. O'Reilly is a former Stanley Cup winner and recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy, a testament to his post-season experience and drive. His confidence and swagger are integral to his play, and the Leafs are likely to benefit from his return to the lineup. The game against the Boston Bruins is fitting, as the Leafs may have to defeat them in the playoffs to make their Stanley Cup dreams a reality.

Michigan's freshmen Adam Fantilli, Gavin Brindley, and Rutger McGroarty have become a dominant line in college hockey since combining for eight points during a series split against Minnesota back in January. The Wolverines, the nation's highest-scoring team, are 13-3-2 in their past 18 games, and their all-freshmen line has been leading the charge. The players are highly-rated NHL prospects and their coach instantly saw their skill sets complementing each other when he put them together. With Brindley's speed, Fantilli's tenacity, quick-release shot and playmaking ability, and McGroarty's strength and nose for the net, the three teenagers have created matchup nightmares for opposing coaches. They are expected to be deployed heavily in Michigan's national semifinal matchup against Quinnipiac. The Wolverines have picked up momentum since the freshmen line began working together in January, and they are expected to lead their team to the championship. At the national semifinals game, the electric freshmen line will have to face off against Quinnipiac's bulldog defense, backed by Yaniv Perets, who will have to put up a good defense to stop Michigan's lethal attack.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has reportedly been accepting trips from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow for more than two decades without proper disclosure, according to a recent investigation from ProPublica. Traveling on Crow's private jet and even vacationing on his superyacht, Thomas appears to have ignored financial disclosure rules that require him to declare gifts valued over $415, and may have also breached federal disclosure laws by not disclosing Crow's gifts of yacht and jet travel. Crow has said that he would never seek to influence Thomas on legal or political issues, yet these trips raise ethical questions given the other guests that Crow has invited, which include GOP donors and executives from major organizations such as Verizon and PricewaterhouseCoopers. This latest report raises further concerns about conservative justices on the Supreme Court politicizing their roles in such an astroturfed 6-3 conservative majority, having already stripped millions of American women of their abortion rights.

Fans had a flurry on social media on Thursday over rumors of Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet dating. The dating rumors began after a gossip site, DeuxMoi, posted an email in their Instagram stories saying that the two were seeing each other. However, DeuxMoi labeled the submissions with her "Read with Caution" gif, indicating there may be nothing to the posts. The response from fans was undeniable, with Instagram and Twitter alive with comments over the rumored relationship. Although the dating rumors may currently be nothing but rumors at this time, they did not stop users from weighing in on social media. While Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny are indeed together, Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet are still a question mark. However, Jenner and Chalamet have been seen speaking to each other in the past. For example, they were both guests at Paul Gaultier's Spring 2023 Haute Couture show in January. Until there is some kind of confirmation from either party, it seems that fans will be left with nothing but speculation.

Philadelphia 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton's postseason and playoff participation remain undecided due to concerns about his health. Melton has played a significant amount of minutes this season, with only Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris starting more games than him for the Sixers. Despite being in great shape, the guard has dealt with health issues all season and has not been at 100% for most of it. Head coach Doc Rivers said that the team may consider resting him over additional conditioning as a result. Moreover, Melton frequently guards some of the opponents' best guards, including Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Devin Booker. All of this, paired with the fact that the Sixers have the toughest schedule since after the All-Star Break, has taken a toll on Melton's health. If he is rested, it would certainly alter the rotation for Rivers and the Sixers. For now, no decision has been made about Melton's playoff participation.

After a win against the Sacramento Kings and an Oklahoma City Thunder loss against the Golden State Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks are tied with the Thunder for the 10th best record in the Western Conference. With two games left in the regular season, the Mavericks need one of two scenarios to happen: win both games and hope for the Thunder to lose one of their last two games, or win one of their last two games and see the Thunder lose their last two games.

If the Mavericks make the play-in as a 10th place finisher in the West, they will face the Minnesota Timberwolves. If they win, they will play the loser of the 7-seed vs. 8-seed game. If they win that game, they will advance to the playoffs as an 8-seed and play a seven-game series against the top-seeded Denver Nuggets. The NBA started using the current form of the play-in tournament in 2021, and 10th place teams are 0-4 in those games.

The global Contact Lenses Market is expected to continue its steady growth over the forecast period from 2022 to 2030, with a projected CAGR of 5.20%. This anticipated growth is attributed to several factors, including the rising prevalence of eye diseases, such as presbyopia and glaucoma, as well as the increasing demand for Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses due to their high oxygen transmissibility through the cornea. The market report from Growth Plus Reports provides a comprehensive analysis of the Contact Lenses industry, including regional and country breakdowns, cost analysis, supply chain, market influencing factors analysis, and more. It identifies key players in the market and their strategies for growth, making it an essential resource for investors, analysts, advisors, business strategists, and anyone interested in the market. With increasing investments in research and development, leading companies are discovering new materials and technologies to make contact lenses even more functional and efficient, leading to further growth in the market.

Jeremy Renner, known for his roles in Marvel’s ‘Avengers’, has revealed that he wrote a goodbye letter to his family during the horrific snowplough accident that he suffered earlier this year. In an interview with ABC News, the actor explained that he feared he was going to die and the pain was unbearable. He added that he was convinced he would surely have died if he had been alone during the incident- he was trying to save his nephew from being hit by the vehicle. Renner said he had sustained blunt chest trauma, broke more than 30 bones including a shattered rib that pierced his liver, and suffered a collapsed lung. The actor is currently learning to walk again with assistance.

Renner had remained conscious and in pain throughout the whole ordeal and thus chose to write goodbye notes on his phone to his family in case he didn’t survive. The 50-year-old star stated that he felt sorry for his family and had to tell them he was sorry in sign language as he teared up during the conversation with Diane Sawyer. Although his road to recovery is not yet complete, Renner’s successful recuperation is a reminder to never give up on the hope of a normal life.

Residents across southern Indiana and Kentucky are being urged to stay alert as a Tornado Watch remains in effect until 3 am on Saturday. The watch covers a wide area, including ten counties in Indiana and 24 in Kentucky. While no tornadoes have been reported yet, a Wind Advisory is also in place from Friday evening until Saturday afternoon, with gusts of up to 50 mph being possible.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to stay tuned to local news broadcasts and weather alerts, and to make preparations in case a tornado warning is issued. This includes identifying a safe place in advance to take shelter, such as a basement, interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a building.

The National Weather Service also advises people to avoid traveling on highways and in cars, especially in areas where the tornado watch is in effect. In case of emergency, residents should call 911 or seek assistance from local authorities. Stay safe and prepare for any potentially dangerous weather conditions.

On Friday night, the Phoenix Suns will go head to head with the Denver Nuggets without four of the Nuggets' starters. Nikola Jokic, the team's two-time MVP, is out with right calf tightness, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. will sit out because of injuries to their heel, knee, and calf, respectively. The Suns, who are healthy and have won six games in a row, are expected to have an easy victory over the battered Nuggets. Furthermore, the game gives the Suns a chance to experiment with different strategies since they will most likely face the Nuggets in the playoffs, and it will give them an advantage if they are able to exploit the Nuggets' weaknesses. While the Phoenix Suns can pick their poison with the Nuggets without the majority of their starters, the Nuggets will have to work extremely hard to secure a win. Nevertheless, the game could be an excellent opportunity for the Nuggets' bench players to showcase their talent against one of the best teams in the West.

SpaceX has moved its most flight-ready Starship rocket, Ship 24, to a launch site in South Texas for its upcoming launch. The launch could occur as early as April 10th, sources report. The system's massive "Super Heavy" first stage was positioned on Saturday, and now the Starship upper stage is set to be lifted into place. The spacecraft is intended to evolve into a fully reusable launch and landing system designed for trips to the moon, Mars, and other destinations. Starship will launch at an altitude of over 150 miles, then splash down off the Hawaiian coast, according to federal filings. NASA is closely tracking SpaceX's progress, as it intends to use the Starship vehicle as a lunar lander for the Artemis Moon missions. SpaceX estimates its rocket has about twice as much thrust as NASA's rocket, the Space Launch System. Its reusability is "the holy grail of space," said CEO Elon Musk, as it will make spaceflight more affordable to the average person.

As heavy rain continues to hit Louisiana, law enforcement officials advise drivers to be cautious on the roads due to potentially hazardous conditions. Six inches of water can stall a car, while just a foot can carry it away. Police urge drivers not to drive in or through flooded areas, as vehicles can be swept away or stall out in moving water. It's important to drive slowly enough to avoid hydroplaning and stay behind other vehicles to avoid splashing water. Additionally, it's essential to have headlights on when using windshield wipers, avoid distracted driving, and not to drive too close to other cars. Flash floods are the most common types of floods and can occur quickly after heavy rainfall events, while river floods take longer to form but can affect a much larger area. It's important to remember universal flood safety tips: "turn around, don't drown," never crossing a flooded area and following warnings from the National Weather Service and local news outlets.

The Biden administration released a new proposal on Thursday that would forbid schools and colleges in the US from enacting blanket bans on transgender athletes participating in sports consistent with their gender identities. The move came in response to Republican-led states that have tried to prohibit trans athletes from competing on teams that align with their gender identities. The proposal would become part of Title IX, the 50-year-old law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funding. The new rule would allow teams to develop eligibility criteria that could result in limits around trans athletes’ participation only if it served important educational objectives, such as fairness and safety. The proposed rule change allows elementary school students to participate in school sports consistent with their gender identity, though the impact could vary across numerous sports for older students. The new rule faces a lengthy approval process, as well as an almost certain challenge from opponents.