Leaked U.S. military and intelligence documents reveal a bleak assessment of Ukraine's battlefield conditions, highlighting alarming shortfalls in Western-supplied weaponry, and a lack of ammunition and air defense. One of the leaked documents suggests that Ukraine's ability to provide medium range air defense to protect the front line will be completely reduced by May 23. The documents provide an extraordinarily detailed snapshot of battlefield conditions during the Ukraine war, and depict deep American penetration into Russian plans, equipment, and manpower. With NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warning that the rate of Ukraine's expenditure of ammunition was "many times higher" than the rate at which its benefactors could produce it, the United States, NATO, the European Union, and allies much farther afield have been seeking more ammunition from South Korea to Eastern Europe and Central Asia. To protect sensitive sites, military personnel, and equipment, air defense is critical. Ukrainian airforce spokesperson, Col. Yuriy Ihnat, downplayed the value of the information to Moscow, describing air defense as an asset that constantly shifts with battlefield conditions and Russian reconnaissance, making month-old information obsolete by now. Despite ongoing problems in Ukraine, the United States and NATO allies continue to rush the government in Kyiv myriad air defense systems, creating a patchwork of capabilities to augment mostly Soviet and Russian-built systems.

A recent ruling by Texas-based U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk that could stay the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, a medication used in more than 50% of abortions, has been met with outrage from Democrats. They have vowed to use every tool available to protect access to mifepristone, which could be limited not only in Texas but also across the country if this ruling goes into effect. The Biden administration has already filed its notice of appeal in the Fifth Circuit to fight Judge Kacsmaryk's ruling. Meanwhile, Republicans have remained largely silent, reflecting the divide in the politics around abortion. Strategists believe that anger over abortion bans helped sink Republicans in critical races in the midterms, and Democrats are making the issue central to their attacks on declared and potential candidates for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024. The Texas decision does not go into effect for seven days, and a judge in Washington state has ordered the FDA to preserve the "status quo."

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been accused of being involved in a political scandal after it was revealed that he had a long-time friendship with Harlan Crow, a wealthy Texas real-estate developer, who has given gifts to Thomas, including trips on Crow's private plane and yacht, and vacation stays at his property in the Adirondacks. The left-leaning website ProPublica reported on this alleged controversy which has raised concerns and prompted calls for investigations into Clarence Thomas’s conduct. Moreover, reports by the Washingtonian indicate that Crow owns a collection of Hitler memorabilia, which has raised further suspicions. However, Clarence Thomas denied any wrongdoing and said that he has always sought to comply with disclosure guidelines, and that he did not have to report the gifts as they constituted personal hospitality. The controversy has been blown out of proportion to tarnish Justice Thomas’s reputation and damage the Supreme Court's credibility. Furthermore, this controversy is part of the left's campaign to undermine the Supreme Court and force leftist agendas by resorting to any means necessary.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is still embroiled in a series of legal battles with Walt Disney Co., over the special governing status of the Reedy Creek Improvement District in Florida, which regulates the land occupied by Disney's Florida theme parks. DeSantis had signed a bill in February, stripping some of the district's powers and giving him the authority to appoint members of its new board. However, Disney outmaneuvered the governor by approving an agreement the day before the vote that essentially gave the company free rein over Reedy Creek's developments. DeSantis' office claims that Disney was actively trying to keep the agreement from being disclosed to the public, but Disney states that all agreements were approved in compliance with Florida's Government in the Sunshine law. The fight between the two parties has attracted national attention and could potentially harm Florida's business reputation. Critics argue that DeSantis should drop his retaliation campaign against Disney and focus on more pressing issues affecting Florida's residents.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced on social media that he would pardon Army Sgt. Daniel Perry, who was found guilty of murder for shooting a protester during a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Austin in July 2020. Perry's defense team argued that he fired in self-defense. The jury found Perry guilty, and he faces up to life in prison. Abbott said that he is pushing for a pardon, but the state constitution limits him to recommend a pardon only on recommendation of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Abbott's announcement of possible pardon comes after FOX TV host Tucker Carlson criticized him for not recognizing the right of self-defense, and Kyle Rittenhouse, found not guilty in the death of two protesters in Wisconsin in 2020, expressed support for Perry on Twitter. Meanwhile, District Attorney Jose Garza's camp did not provide a comment on Abbott's move.

The Save Ukraine charity completed its latest effort to reunite 31 children with their families over the weekend after the children were taken from their homes in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions to Russian-occupied Crimea. The children were taken to summer camps, where they were told that they would be staying longer and that they would be adopted. One child said they were "treated like animals" while others moved five times in as many months. The children were located by the charity and taken across the border from Russian-controlled territory on foot through Belarus and back to Ukraine. The reunions were an emotional occasion with family members hugging and crying following months of separation. Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia last year, the Ukrainian authorities estimate that Russia has deported more than 16,000 children. Last month, the International Criminal Court charged Russian President Vladimir Putin and children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova with war crimes. Russian has denied the charge, and Lvova-Belova said that her commission had acted to protect children from the war.

The two British-Israeli sisters killed in a gun attack in the West Bank have been identified as Rina, 15, and Maia Dee, 20, who were born in London. The girls were in a car with their mother when gunmen opened fire while overtaking their vehicle in the Jordan valley. Rina and Maia’s mother, Lucianne, 45, was critically injured and is now in intensive care in Jerusalem. The father of the girls, Rabbi Leo Dee, served in synagogues in Hendon, north London and Radlett, and moved with the family to Israel eight years ago. He was travelling in a separate car and came across the scene as emergency services arrived. The incident follows days of fighting between Palestinian protestors and Israeli police at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, together with wider geopolitical tensions, leading some to fear an escalation. The attack was by Palestinians, and the Israeli military carried out retaliatory airstrikes on Lebanon and Gaza.

Leaked Pentagon documents reveal that the United States has penetrated Russia's security and intelligence services, giving Washington the ability to provide Ukraine with real-time warnings about planned strikes and an assessment of Moscow's war strength. The documents also show a picture of a depleted Russian military struggling in the war against Ukraine, which could potentially influence Russia's decision to continue fighting or seek a negotiated settlement. However, the documents also exposed a critical shortage of air defense munitions in Ukraine, indicating that the country is in dire straits as well. The United States appears to be spying on Ukraine's top military and political leaders to gain a clear view of the country's fighting strategies. While the leak appears to show the extent of the US's intelligence on Russia's planning, it is uncertain if any sources of information will be cut off as a result of the leak. The leaked documents, considered the most complete picture of the inner workings of the largest land war in Europe in decades, is under Pentagon investigation.

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida faces criticism for his ongoing fight against Walt Disney Co. Last year, Disney opposed Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill, prompting the governor to sign a bill in February that renamed Reedy Creek Improvement District and stripped some of its powers. It also allowed the governor to appoint members of its new board. However, the previous board approved an agreement that gave Disney control of its land within the district a day before the Florida House voted to put the governor in charge. DeSantis' appointees only discovered the agreement after the fact.

Disney claimed that all agreements were discussed and approved in compliance with Florida's Government in the Sunshine law. The governor's office accused Disney lobbyist Adam Babington of petitioning for suppression of the deal. DeSantis' actions have been called anti-business and anti-Florida, but he orders further investigation of the arrangement with renewed vigor.

The controversy demonstrates the hazards of fighting big corporations on their home turf. It remains to be seen how the Governor's smear campaign against Disney will impact either party.

Arkansas will be in the direct path of the Great American Eclipse, a rare total solar eclipse, on April 8th, 2024. During the eclipse, the moon will move between the Earth and the sun blocking out its light, with 100% of the sun being blocked. The eclipse will enter southwest Arkansas at around 1:45 PM and will be over Little Rock, Conway, and Russellville around 1:50 PM before exiting northeast Arkansas around 2:00 PM. The length of the total eclipse depends on the location in the path of totality, ranging from over 4 minutes along the blue line to about 2 minutes along the edges of the path. On the other hand, during the annular eclipse on October 14th, 2023, only 70% to 80% of the sun’s light will be blocked. Arkansas reportedly also saw a total solar eclipse on August 21st, 2017. Special glasses are required to safely view the eclipses. The Great American Eclipse is expected to draw thousands and even millions of people to witness the historic event.

Isle of Palms leaders held an emergency meeting following a shooting that injured six people on Friday. The gathering was apparently planned as a “skip day” on the beach, with the police already aware of a possible issue and the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office providing additional resources. Police were responding to two fights before the gunfire occurred, possibly linked to a group of students from schools in Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston counties. Most of the injured were aged between 15 and 16. The six victims, including an innocent bystander in their 30s, have been released from hospital. Two people have been charged with weapon possession charges, but not for the gunfire. Authorities are calling for any witnesses to come forward. Island leaders will consider further resources and methods to avoid such incidents in the future, with serious conversations about access and gatherings on the beach. No police officers were injured during the incident.

China's military began three days of combat readiness patrol exercises on Friday, with drills aimed at "an all-round encirclement and deterrence posture" around Taiwan. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province of China, while Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state. On Taiwan's return from a trip to the US by President Tsai Ing-wen, 71 Chinese military planes and nine ships reportedly crossed the Taiwan Strait median line. Chinese state media noted the efficient deployment of the "long-range rocket artillery, naval destroyers, missile boats, air force fighters, bombers, jammers and refuellers". The move follows Tsai's meeting with the US House foreign affairs committee chairman, in which weapons to Taiwan were discussed. Although China often holds drills around Taiwan, the encirclement is being seen as further action taken in response. Despite this, residents of Taipei downplay such manoeuvres as part of daily life.

The Boston University Terriers are set to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the semifinals of the Frozen Four on Thursday. The Terriers, who finished their regular season with a record of 29-10-0, is a No. 1 seed in the tournament. They are led by captain Domenick Fensore who says that the team's approach to this tournament has been to never feel satisfied and to always want more. The team's last appearance in the tournament was in 2021 when they were eliminated after one game. Their opponents, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, are the top-ranked team in the tournament and won the Big Ten regular-season title. They feature Logan Cooley and Matthew Knies, who are both finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, and will certainly be a tough challenge for the Terriers. The game is set to start at 5 pm EST and will be televised on ESPN2. The winner of this matchup will advance to the championship game on Saturday.

A viral tweet on March 29, 2023, claimed that Elon Musk had added a pop sound to Twitter's like button, but this claim is false. The like button on Twitter does not make any sound when clicked.

The satirical tweet appeared amidst several announcements by Musk since he bought Twitter in October 2022. Musk's latest announcement was about accounts that would appear on the "For You" section of a user's Twitter feed. Musk tweeted on March 28, 2023, that accounts a user follows directly would also be in "For You" since the user had explicitly asked for them.

Musk has implemented some of the changes he announced, but not all, such as the poll on stepping down as CEO of Twitter. Musk also flip-flopped on the plan to ask people to pay for their verified blue check, but this plan has now been reinstated, facing resistance from several news organizations and celebrities.

Many people have made fun of Musk on Twitter, such as fake tweets impersonating him or making satirical announcements involving him, like purchasing General Motors or adding sounds to Twitter's like button. Nevertheless, Musk's tweets have a significant impact on the platform, and he uses Twitter to communicate with his followers, make announcements, and gauge public opinion.

Waterson-Gomez, also known as "The Karate Hottie," is set to face off against Luana Pinheiro in the upcoming UFC 287. At 37 years old, some may be wondering if Waterson-Gomez is contemplating retirement. However, she recently signed an eight-fight deal with the UFC and assures fans that she still has plenty more to give. Despite losing four of her last five bouts, she remains highly motivated and inspired, reminding herself to live a fulfilling life as a warrior. Waterson-Gomez loves MMA and is passionate about taking on another challenge, and hopes to develop and evolve with the sport.

One noticeable distinction between Waterson-Gomez and her fellow Jackson-Wink teammate, Steve Garcia, is their financial status. At 37 years old and financially independent, Waterson-Gomez fights simply because she loves it. On the other hand, Garcia fights paycheck to paycheck, and takes one fight at a time to support his family. Garcia is scheduled to face China's Shayilan Nuerdanbieke on UFC 287 in Miami, in a fight that could make or break his career.

The Quinnipiac men's hockey team is in the championship game, looking to win their first national title in program history. Despite only having three NHL draft picks on the roster, they believe in their strong culture and brotherhood that has been built since head coach Rand Pecknold took over the program in 1994. The culture has been cultivated over the past 29 years and has been significant in the team's success, with high-character and high hockey IQ players leading them against teams with 18 draft picks.

Pecknold credits the class of 2006 for changing the program's culture and making them into one of the premier programs in college hockey. Quinnipiac has been to two Frozen Fours in 2013 and 2016 but fell short of the ultimate prize. However, this year, they believe that their culture and mentality will push them to victory against the nation's top team, Minnesota, in the championship game.

Despite being underdogs, Quinnipiac is ready to rely on their strong bond and culture to surprise the nation and bring home their first national title.

Alex Pereira, the current UFC Middleweight champion, has advised music superstar and betting enthusiast, Drake, to bet on him in his upcoming rematch against Israel Adesanya. Pereira and Adesanya will face each other again in their first MMA rematch, after Pereira defeated Adesanya in their first fight in October 2022. Pereira has won all three fights against Adesanya, despite the latter having a dominant reign as the Middleweight champion. Notably, Drake had placed a two-million-dollar bet on Adesanya in the previous fight, only to lose the money when Adesanya was knocked out by Pereira in the fifth round. Pereira recently posted a video on Instagram captioned, “@champagnepapi - I hope this time you bet on the right person,” suggesting that Drake should bet on him instead of Adesanya in their rematch. Drake has gained a reputation for placing bets on sporting events, with mixed results. The UFC 287 rematch between Pereira and Adesanya is scheduled for April 8, 2023, at the Miami-Dade Arena in Florida.

The UFC announced that Chase Sherman was out of his scheduled UFC 287 matchup against Karl Williams due to a medical issue. Sherman, who dropped five out of six UFC fights, was looking to take on Williams, who had won five in a row, extending his current streak to six. Karl Williams was initially Chris Barnett's backup, who withdrew from the Ultimate Fighting Championship match for undisclosed reasons. The fight was supposed to take place at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. This is not Karl Williams' first appearance in the UFC, as the 33-year-old from Atlanta won his debut fight against Lukasz Brzeski in a unanimous decision in March. The fight extended Williams' win streak to five straight.

The heavyweight battle was one of the UFC's preliminary fights scheduled for April 8, 2023, in Miami, Florida. The fight was part of a massive UFC 287 event that included Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal, Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez, Kevin Holland vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio, Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Christian Rodriguez, Chris Curtis vs. Kelvin Gastelum, Michelle Waterson vs. Luana Pinheiro, Gerald Meerschaert vs. Joe Pyfer, Cynthia Calvillo vs. Lupita Godinez, Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Trey Ogden, Shayilan Nuerdanbieke vs. Steve Garcia, and Jacqueline Amorim vs. Sam Hughes.

Luke Hughes and Mackie Fantilli of the University of Michigan hockey team have earned accolades for their standout performances in the 2021-2022 season. Hughes, a defenseman, was named to the first team AHCA/CCM All-America honors and became the first player since Mike Cammalleri to earn back-to-back All-America honors. Meanwhile, Fantilli was honored as the 2023 Tim Taylor National Rookie of the Year by the Hockey Commissioners Association. He led the nation in scoring with 65 points in 36 games, scoring 30 goals and 35 assists. He has multi-point performances in 19 of 36 games and has a seven-game point streak, setting a new single-tournament record for goals and points in the Big Ten Tournament.

In other hockey news, UMass defenseman Scott Morrow was named a New England Men's Division I All-Star for the second time in his career. He finished his sophomore season as the points leader for the Minutemen with 31 on nine goals and 22 assists, including four tallies on the power play, one shorthanded and two game winners, seeing action in all 35 games. He also became just the second Minuteman blueliner to post 30+ points in multiple seasons.

Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier will be making his debut as a broadcast analyst at the upcoming UFC 287 event. Poirier will join longtime broadcaster Michael Eaves and coach Din Thomas as a post-fight analyst for the 'Pereira vs Adesanya 2' pay-per-view at the Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida. Poirier retweeted MMA Junkie's article but has not made any official statement regarding his new role. Poirier last competed against Michael Chandler in UFC 281 in November 2022, where he emerged victorious with a third-round submission win. The co-main event of UFC 287 will feature former welterweight title challengers Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal. Poirier is expected to provide valuable insight ahead of Masvidal's fight, given their shared affiliation as teammates. Justin Gaethje, who is ranked third in the lightweight category currently, is campaigning for a rematch with Poirier, who is ranked second in the same category. Gaethje is set on rectifying his loss to Poirier from 2018.

Alex Pereira, the current UFC middleweight champion, seems to have found a new love interest in Merle, a media presenter, and their social media posts indicate a potential romantic involvement. Pereira, however, got divorced a year ago and has two sons, Alessandro Vidal Silva and Lohan Vidal Silva, with his previous wife, whom he prefers to keep a low profile. The fighter is a private person and has never disclosed any information about his marriage or previous relationships.

In his professional life, Pereira has made a name for himself with his stunning knockouts in his previous kickboxing career, and he hopes to continue doing so in the UFC. He already has 33 professional kickboxing wins, of which 21 came by way of knockouts. However, he faces a new set of challenges in the MMA world and is determined to make his mark as he did in kickboxing. Before joining the UFC, he delivered some spectacular knockouts, his last being a monstrous left hook against Ertugrul Bayrak at GLORY Collision 2.

As the world eagerly awaits the upcoming middleweight title bout between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira, fans wonder whether Adesanya will finally be able to defeat his old nemesis. Although Adesanya is known for his knockout power, Pereira has proven to give him a tough time in the past, having defeated him three times before. Adesanya's exceptional striking skills were on full display during his victory against Robert Whittaker at UFC 243, where he executed a crushing left hook that sent Whittaker tumbling to the mat. Adesanya's most recent KO win was against Paulo Costa at UFC 253, where he finished the fight with ground-and-pound. However, in his previous encounters with Pereira, Adesanya fell short due to the latter's calf kick attack that disabled Adesanya and compromised him defensively. Experts predict that Pereira might use this technique again to try to compromise Adesanya's movement. Although Adesanya is arguably the better overall martial artist, Pereira's power has proven to be a difference-maker throughout their past encounters. Will this time be any different? Fans will have to wait until the highly-anticipated fight to find out.

UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns made headlines last year when he was seen carrying his younger brother, Herbert Burns out of the Octagon following a defeat. Herbert had suffered a strange TKO loss after he refused to stand up when instructed to do so by referee Keith Peterson. The incident left everyone itching their heads. Gilbert Burns rushed in to help his younger brother, who was unable to stand up after the fight ended. A photo of the Brazilian duo quickly went viral, as it showed a rare occurrence of brotherly love in a sport that can be brutal for those on the receiving end of tough defeats.

Since then, Gilbert Burns has been in the news for other reasons. The fighter is currently preparing for his next fight against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287. Burns is hoping to get back to the top of his game and into the title contention. He believes former champion Kamaru Usman should've taken more time to "digest" his knockout loss to Leon Edwards before attempting to regain his title. Burns is ranked no. 5 in the UFC Welterweight Division, and his next fight is eagerly anticipated.

For those planning an Easter celebration, it could be a true lifesaver to purchase everything you need in bulk from Costco. However, it is important to ensure that the wholesale retailer is open on the holiday. According to a spokesperson, Costco warehouses across the United States will be closed for Easter Sunday 2023. Unfortunately, shoppers will not also have access to Sam’s Club as it will also remain closed for the holiday. While the absence of both Costco and Sam’s Club may seem discouraging, there are some alternatives. Stores such as Kroger or Walgreen's will be open on the holiday, allowing last-minute shoppers to purchase the necessary products. Moreover, other grocery stores like ACME, Albertsons, Food Lion, Giant Food, and Harris Teeter will be open during regular hours. Costco observes seven holidays annually, including New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

A trove of leaked Pentagon documents found on social media sites in recent days reveal how extensively the United States has penetrated Russia’s security and intelligence services. The leaked documents detail information about the planned strikes of Moscow and its specific targets, providing the United States the ability to alert Ukraine and pass on crucial information to help defend itself. Furthermore, the documents divulge the American assessment of a depleted and struggling Russian military compromised by the United States. In addition, the material suggests that the United States is spying on Ukraine's top military and political leaders, highlighting Washington's struggle to get a clear view of Ukraine's fighting strategies.

While officials have acknowledged that intelligence collection is challenging and sometimes mistaken, the documents offer the most comprehensive picture yet of the largest land war in Europe in decades. The materials reinforce the idea that the United States has a clearer understanding of Russian military operations than it does of Ukrainian planning. American officials have said that they are uncertain if any of their sources of information will be cut off due to the leak. Although the new documents show that America's understanding of Russian planning remains extensive, American officials have admitted they have lost some sources of information since the war began.