Dominion Voting Systems, an elections technology company that provides software and voting machines, became infamous after former President Donald J. Trump and his allies accused the company of perpetuating election fraud in the 2020 elections. Dominion responded by filing defamation lawsuits against public figures and news networks, including Fox News, which is currently set to stand trial regarding the issue. The company's case against Fox News was supposed to commence on Monday; however, the proceedings were abruptly delayed for a day without a reason. Fox had been facing several adverse rulings, including the limitation of their legal strategy by Judge Eric M. Davis, who ruled that the network cannot contest whether statements made about Dominion were false or harmful. Instead, the trial will hinge on whether Fox aired the falsehoods with "actual malice.” A settlement may also be in the works, according to The Wall Street Journal. Dominion, which is owned by a private equity firm in New York, is named after Canada's 1920 Dominion Elections Act, which helped remove voting barriers for certain social groups.

On Saturday night, two teenagers were shot near Millennium Park in downtown Chicago leading to a large police presence. Fifteen people were arrested after groups of young adults and juveniles were reported to engage in reckless and disruptive behavior. The victims were transported to Northwestern Hospital in fair condition, and the investigations are currently ongoing with no suspects in custody. Most charges were for reckless conduct except for a 16-year-old boy who was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and a firearm was seized by the police. An adult and a juvenile were also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. Mayor Lori Lightfoot expressed her determination not to allow any of Chicago’s public spaces to become a platform for criminal activity, urging parents and guardians to know their children’s whereabouts and be accountable for their actions. Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson disapproved of the destructive behavior, and although not blaming the youth, called on the Chicago community to create safe and supervised spaces that prevent crime from being attracted to the city streets.

Poland and Hungary's unilateral bans on Ukrainian grain and food imports have been condemned by the European Commission, which stated that such action on trade by EU member states is unacceptable. The bans come as Ukraine's Black Sea ports were blocked, and Ukrainian grain, which is cheaper than EU-produced grains, stayed in Central Europe due to logistical bottlenecks. This has hit selling prices for local farmers, creating a political issue for Poland's ruling party in an election year. The ban is aimed at protecting the local agricultural sector, but the EC spokesperson reiterated that trade policy is EU exclusive competence, and unilateral action is not acceptable. The Polish ban will also apply to transit of these products through the country, which prompted the Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food to call for talks. Although the Commission has said unilateral moves will not be tolerated, it has not yet clarified what measures it would take against Poland and Hungary.

Officials are warning residents in the Indiana and Ohio areas affected by the plastics recycling plant fire not to touch any debris they find on their property as some of the samples collected tested positive for asbestos containing materials. Asbestos is toxic and can cause mesothelioma, a rare form of aggressive cancer. On Saturday, crews in protective gear began collecting debris from three schools near the fire site, including three in Richmond and one school in Ohio. Schools impacted with debris will be cleared first before debris from residential properties, parks, public areas, and businesses will be removed. In addition to asbestos concerns, particulate matter from the fire could cause respiratory problems if inhaled. At the fire site's center, the EPA detected chemicals like hydrogen cyanide, benzene, chlorine, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The evacuations in the half-mile radius around the site will be lifted after officials have a better idea of how safe the area's air and water are through air and water sampling. Richmond City Health Department is offering free cleaning kits to residents that contain gloves, masks, towels, and garbage bags.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas may have failed to report hundreds of thousands of dollars he received in rental income from a real estate firm since it dissolved more than a decade ago in 2006, according to a Washington Post report that cites disclosure forms reviewed by the newspaper. The defunct company named Ginger Limited Partnership was responsible for depositing between $270,000 and $750,000 into Thomas's bank account. It was founded in 1982 by Thomas's wife, Ginni Thomas, who had invited her parents and three siblings to be partners at the firm, records showed. The Post stated that Thomas continued to report incomes from the non-existent firm until last year. This is not the first hesitancy on Thomas’s part to disclose payments as he had earlier failed to report expensive trips paid for by Republican donor Harlan Crow for 20 years, and a 2014 real estate transaction selling his childhood home to Crow. The ProPublica investigation in early April revealed those payments.

Fierce clashes between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Force paramilitaries have spread across the country, leading to the deaths of at least 59 people. The army claimed it had taken control of several RSF bases, while the RSF claimed to hold several sites including Merowe Airport. The fighting has led to a temporary humanitarian ceasefire to allow the wounded to be evacuated, but international voices have called for a permanent end to the violence. The AU has announced that it is sending its top diplomat, Moussa Faki Mahamat, to try to negotiate a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Egypt and South Sudan have offered to mediate between the warring factions, while leading Arab states and the US have urged a resumption of talks aimed at restoring a civilian government. The UN World Food Programme has suspended its operations in the country after three of its workers were killed on Saturday. Sudan has been run by a council of generals since a coup in 2019 that overthrew former President Omar al-Bashir.

A video released by the Farmington Police Department shows officers opening fire on a homeowner who answered the door with a gun. The police officers had shown up at the wrong address in response to a domestic violence call. It is not clear whether the man heard the officers announce themselves before he opened the door. The entire incident happened within two and a half minutes.

The man's wife, who was also armed, returned fire from inside their home, prompting the officers to fire again. She was not injured, but her husband died.

The Farmington Police Department apologized for the incident and said it could not explain what went wrong. The department is currently under scrutiny, and all three officers involved in the shooting have been put on paid administrative leave while the State Police investigate the matter.

This is a tragic incident where an innocent homeowner was killed by the very people who were supposed to protect him. It raises questions about the police's training and their ability to react in high-stress situations. The community is demanding accountability and transparency from law enforcement officials in the aftermath of the shooting.

In a pre-dawn raid on Monday, US special operations forces killed a senior leader of the Islamic State's Syria franchise in the country's northwest. Two other individuals were also killed in the operation, but their identities are unknown. The US forces did not suffer any casualties, and no individuals were captured. The raid targeted a senior ISIS leader and operational planner involved in planning terror attacks in the Middle East and Europe. The operation involved several US helicopters, which landed near the village of Al-Ghandoura in the countryside outside of Jarabalus, an area nominally controlled by Syrian militias backed by Turkey. The area has been an active ground for ISIS fighters since the group surrendered its final territory in Syria to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in March 2019. The US has roughly 900 troops in Syria, working alongside the SDF to track down fugitive ISIS leaders and secure makeshift prisons holding ISIS detainees. However, the violent insurgency has persisted in some parts of the country.

At least four people were killed and 28 were wounded during a late-night “Sweet 16” birthday party in Mahogany Masterpiece Dance Studio in Dadeville, Alabama. The small town was devastated by the gun violence as authorities continue to investigate the shooting that officially started around 10:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. There was no official announcement on what caused the shooting. However, one of the four confirmed victims was a Dadeville high school football player, Phil Dowdell, who attended his sister's birthday party. The grandmother identified Phil who was due to graduate very soon and attend Jacksonville State University on a football scholarship. It attracted hundreds of community members who gathered for an outdoor prayer vigil near the shooting spot as the town is struggling to get back on its feet. The tragedy hit the town at a time when the number of high-profile mass shootings continues to soar in the US, causing much public debate around gun control.

Poland has banned the import of grain and other food products from Ukraine due to concerns about the destabilization of the Polish agricultural market. This comes after farmers across central and eastern Europe protested against low-priced Ukrainian grain, which has caused significant financial losses to local producers. Poland's decision has been met with regret from Ukraine, which is ready to cooperate with Poland in any possible investigation. Since Russia invaded Ukraine and blocked ports used to export Ukrainian grain, the European Union lifted duties on grain to ease distribution to global markets, but much of the grain has remained in Poland, bringing down the price and causing local farmers to suffer losses. The European Commission announced the draft decision to extend import duty-free and quota-free Ukrainian grain imports until 2024, prompting the Polish agriculture minister to resign. Bulgaria is experiencing a similar situation, as local producers complain of warehouses full of unsold goods. Although Bulgaria is in solidarity with Ukraine, it is concerned about the creation of a local glut on the agricultural market.

On Sunday, residents within half a mile of the plastics fire in Richmond, Indiana, were permitted to return home after environmental experts declared that the air quality and other environmental factors were safe. However, the EPA remains concerned about the presence of debris, some of which has tested positive for the carcinogenic substance asbestos. The EPA has urged residents to call them if they have debris on their property and not to disturb it. Hydrogen cyanide and benzene were also detected in the fire debris, which landed near schools or in parks and private yards. Despite firefighting efforts, clouds of toxic smoke billowed from the inferno, alarming residents and putting lives in danger. Approximately 1,500 people live in the affected area, but it is unclear how many left after being ordered to evacuate. While the fire has been designated as contained, and 99% out, according to the local fire chief, Tim Brown, investigations into its cause continue.

Deadly fighting between Sudan's regular army and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left at least 59 people dead and more than 600 others injured. Throughout the night residents of Khartoum, Sudan's capital, were woken up by heavy artillery fire and fighter jets launching airstrikes. Families stayed indoors fearing for their lives, but some ventured out to purchase food as the clashes continue. The violence came after weeks of bitter disagreements between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who leads the RSF, over the integration of the RSF into the regular army. The military coup in 2021 exacerbated political tensions between various factions, and the latest violence has sparked concern that it may lead to an even greater humanitarian crisis. Pro-democracy medics reported at least 56 civilians killed, most of whom were taking shelter in their homes when the violence broke out, adding that hundreds of thousands of people would be at risk if the violence continues. International humanitarian organisations have called for an end to the fighting and the restoration of a civilian government.

Following Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s decision to step down from her position on the Judiciary Committee, multiple senators came out to praise the 89-year-old’s decision. While some members of Feinstein’s own party had urged her to retire, supporters like Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) spoke up in defense of Feinstein, saying she believes that Feinstein will come back to work after being diagnosed with shingles and sent to the hospital last month. Other senators, like Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), have voiced their support for Feinstein's decision to remain in the Senate. Klobuchar also admitted that given her quasi-absence from the office, Feinstein made the right decision to leave the Judiciary Committee. However, if her absence continues, Klobuchar believed that Feinstein would have to make a decision about her future with her family and friends. Feinstein’s supporters believe that it is her right to decide when she steps down, while critics think that it is time for her to relinquish her position due to her age and health issues. There have been contrasting opinions on whether Feinstein should continue serving or retire from her role.

Gunmen stormed La Palma resort in Cortazar, Guanajuato state, Mexico, killing seven people, including a 7-year-old child, and injuring another person. The armed men arrived at the resort around 4:30 pm on Saturday and opened fire indiscriminately, before destroying the resort's store and taking the security cameras that captured the incident. No suspects have been arrested yet. The Mexican army and public security forces are investigating, including using helicopters. Mexican officials shared no possible motive for the attack, though in recent years rival drug cartels have gotten into skirmishes in the state. Social media videos showed stunned vacationers wearing bathing suits hugging their children. The town's security department said the attackers fled, causing damage to the resort's store before escaping.

Washington-born singer-songwriter Allen Stone has joined American Idol as a mentor for the contestants as they enter the next stage of the competition. Stone, who launched his music career playing gigs up and down the West Coast in his 1987 Buick, shot to fame with his 2011 single "Unaware". A live recording from his mother's living room that showcases his impressive vocal range, the track has now been viewed more than 15 million times on YouTube. Stone, the son of a pastor, has released five albums in total, with two produced by Capitol Records. The 36-year-old will also be supporting country musician Chris Stapleton on his US tour later this year. In an interview with Inlander last year, Stone said: "If I can get everybody to sing along or everybody to participate, that's when it becomes like a high. That's what I'm going for."

Milwaukee Bucks' star Giannis Antetokounmpo left Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat with a lower back contusion and did not return. The injury occurred in the first quarter after taking a swing pass from Joe Ingles and driving hard to the basket. Kevin Love slid underneath in an attempt to take a charge, resulting in Antetokounmpo crashing hard on his lower back. Although the Bucks ruled the play to be a blocking foul on Love, Antetokounmpo left the game to shoot his free throws, then continued playing for a few more minutes before retreating to the locker room.

The Bucks' power forward checked back into the game with 9:56 remaining in the second quarter, but he only lasted a little over a minute before moving gingerly towards the locker room. Antetokounmpo had to exit the game early before the end of the first half. Budenholzer, the Bucks' head coach, confirmed that x-rays on Antetokounmpo's back contusion came back "clear", but the team will continue to monitor his health.

Moreover, Tyler Herro, the shooting guard for the Miami Heat, will also miss the rest of the game due to a broken right hand. The Bucks won 118-95 against the Miami Heat in the first game of the playoff series. However, with key players' injuries, the rest of Milwaukee's playoff run may be uncertain.

As the NBA regular season draws to a close, teams are battling for spots in the play-in tournament. This tournament, which the league has used since 2021, features the 7th through 10th place teams in each conference. The 7th and 8th place teams play a game, and the winner advances to the playoffs as the 7th seed. The loser of that game plays against the winner of a game between the 9th and 10th place teams, with the winner becoming the 8th seed in the playoffs.

In the two years of tournament play so far, the 9th place team has won all of its games against the 10th place team and has won all but one of its games in the second round. The 7th place team has won all of its opening games and advanced to the playoffs, but neither the 7th nor 8th seeded teams have reached the second round of playoff play.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz are currently locked in a battle for the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the LA Clippers face a range of possible outcomes as they try to secure their playoff position in the middle of the conference.

The Milwaukee Bucks have three players who are strong candidates to be honored with individual NBA awards this season. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has a career-high scoring average of 31.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, making him a contender for the MVP award. Although Joel Embiid is the current favorite for the award, a case could be made that Giannis is just as valuable to his team's success. Meanwhile, Bobby Portis has a strong chance of being named Sixth Man of the Year for his valuable contributions off the bench. He averages 12 points and six rebounds per game, and has been praised for his energy and leadership. Finally, Brook Lopez is in the running for the Defensive Player of the Year award. He has been the anchor of the Bucks' defense, averaging over two blocks per game and helping his team allow the fewest points in the paint. All three players have been instrumental in the Bucks' success this season, and each deserves recognition for their outstanding performances.

Former second overall pick James Wiseman is looking at his stint with the Detroit Pistons as a rookie year, following a rocky start to his NBA career which featured constant injuries and a midseason trade from the Golden State Warriors. He tells ESPN that he is taking things one day at a time, setting realistic expectations for himself, and accepting that the process takes time. "It's not going to be now. It's going to be within time, it just takes time within the craft. I just got to keep working. That's it." Meanwhile, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has revealed that he sees similarity in playstyle between him and WNBA's A'ja Wilson. Both bigs are two-time league MVPs who can dominate from the inside and shoot from beyond the arc. Antetokounmpo is among the frontrunners for his third NBA MVP award, an honor he has won twice in a row in the past. However, the Greek Freak brushes off the individual recognition and prioritizes his team's success.

The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to play their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns without Paul George. George suffered a knee injury in March, and despite initial predictions of a 2-3 week recovery, he has not progressed enough in rehabilitation to play in the playoffs, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

George is an eight-time All-Star, and his absence presents a significant disadvantage for the Clippers, who will be going up against a formidable Suns team. Since adding Kevin Durant to the lineup, Phoenix has been on an 8-0 run, and now finds themselves among the championship favorites as the No. 4 seed in the West. Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton have all become essential in a Suns team that has thrived with Kevin Durant on board.

Without George, The Clippers will rely on Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris and Ivica Zubac to pick up the slack, making a first-round win against the Suns seem unlikely. Leonard and George are one of the most dangerous tandems in basketball when healthy, and the Suns will have breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the Clippers will be without George.

Grayson Allen had an impressive season with the Milwaukee Bucks, starting in 70 games with an average of 10.4 points per game. Although he was one of the top shooters on the team, he fell shy of an exclusive club. Allen’s shooting during the 2022-23 season left him .001 short of joining the .500/.400/.900 club, a feat only accomplished by 28 players in NBA history. Four players reached these numbers in the past season: Trey Murphy III, Kevin Durant, Seth Curry, and Steph Curry. Interestingly, Malcolm Brogdon and Khris Middleton reached this shooting milestone for the Bucks in 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. Nonetheless, Allen’s performance was still impressive. In the last three seasons, he shot .400 from the three-point line and .883 on free throws.

The Los Angeles Clippers secured the No. 5 spot in the playoffs after their victory over the Suns on the NBA's final day. However, tensions between teammates Mason Plumlee and Bones Hyland appeared to boil over on the bench. During a timeout in the fourth quarter, Hyland said something to Plumlee, resulting in a brief shoving match before cooler heads prevailed. While the reason behind the altercation remains unclear, it did not affect their performance for the remainder of the game, especially Plumlee's, who scored six of his nine points from the fourth quarter. The Clippers will now face the Suns in the playoffs. Meanwhile, across the league, the NBA was embroiled in a series of scuffles and altercations on Easter Sunday. The Minnesota Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert punched his teammate Kyle Anderson during halftime and did not play in the second half. The T-Wolves also lost Jaden McDaniels after he punched a wall at halftime and hurt his hand.

Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul has once again cleared the air by emphasizing his dedication to helping the Suns capture the Larry O'Brien Trophy in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Last April, his comment about being at peace even without a championship had caused questions about his winning mentality. However, CP3 has confirmed that the discussion doesn't affect his game anymore, and it doesn't imply that he's given up on winning an NBA championship. According to an interview by Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports, Paul said, "Yeah, that ain't what I think about going into the playoffs. That was that conversation, but for me, I'm gonna compete." Nevertheless, this statement may explain The Athletic's recent report, which revealed that the majority of surveyed players in the NBA would prefer to see Chris Paul and Damian Lillard win their first NBA championship rings. Paul said he appreciated it, adding that no one wanted to lift that trophy more than him. Paul and the Suns will face off against the Clippers, one of his former teams, in Game 1 on Sunday.

"The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder" is the latest book by David Grann, a best-selling author who investigates an 18th-century shipwreck saga. The book takes readers through the 1741 shipwreck of the HMS Wager, which occurred off the coast of Chile, forcing the crew to find refuge on a swampy, barren island. The sailors slowly descended into a "Lord of the Flies" type of chaos, with violent factions and some even succumbing to cannibalism. Grann tells the story of the court martial that followed and follows the "warring factions" in their fight for the truth. The book is called "a parable for our own turbulent modern times," and is already being adapted into a movie by Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. Grann is known for his deeply involved historical investigations and structures his narratives impeccably.

As the cold and wet weather lingers in Israel, flash floods remain a potential danger in the southern parts of the country until Thursday, according to local authorities. Hermon Mountain in the north may see some snow, but the skies are expected to clear up on Friday, indicating a warmer weekend ahead. This news comes a day after rescue workers recovered the bodies of two hikers, brother and sister Ma'ayan and Sahar Assor, who went missing the day before, following a flash flood in Israel's southern region. The hikers' car was swept off the road by a powerful flood, leading to the occupants seeking refuge on the rocks beside the stream after abandoning the vehicle. The third hiker, a woman identified as Shai Dahan, was rescued and is currently being treated for mild hypothermia. Israeli Air Force helicopters and the IDF's Unit 669 worked with local rescue units to transport around 60 people from the flood-stricken area to safety. Although a warm weekend awaits, hikers and vacationers are urged to take extra care as flash floods remain a potential risk in the south until after Thursday.