In a decision that could have far-reaching implications, North Carolina's Supreme Court has overturned its earlier ruling that congressional redistricting was the result of partisan gerrymandering. In a reversal that may enable the state legislature, now controlled by Republicans, to redraw electoral maps for upcoming elections, the court's newly elected GOP majority argued that it had no authority to overturn boundary lines drawn by the state General Assembly. The decision may throw into question whether the US Supreme Court will rule on the contentious issue of partisan redistricting, known as Moore v. Harper. The North Carolina case is part of a larger dispute over how electoral maps are drawn, particularly those that create an unequal advantage for one political party. There are concerns that increasingly, political considerations rather than the law are beginning to dominate such decisions. The Supreme Court could choose to declare the case moot and refuse to issue a ruling.

On Wednesday, Disney filed a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alleging that he had infringed on the company's constitutional rights. The company's case seems strong and may well make DeSantis regret the day he decided to pick this fight in his bid to be a leading culture warrior. At the center of the lawsuit is the "Parental Rights in Education bill," signed into law by DeSantis last year. Disney released a statement arguing that the bill should not have passed or been signed into law. DeSantis viewed this statement as a "declaration of war" and vowed to retaliate against Disney. However, Disney was well within its rights to express its opposition to the law, and DeSantis's subsequent attack on the company may have violated its constitutional rights. DeSantis's campaign of retaliation against Disney violates the First Amendment. Disney has the right to express its opposition in any number of ways, such as financially backing other like-minded groups, lobbying Florida lawmakers, or just tweeting out a statement. DeSantis must recognize the merits of Disney's case and stand down instead of digging his heels deeper in a culture crusade that is contrary to the Constitution.

Following two recent helicopter crashes which led to the death of 12 soldiers, the chief of staff of the US Army has issued an order to ground all Army aviators not involved in critical missions until they complete the required training. The order came from Army Chief of Staff James McConville, who said that "the safety of our aviators is our top priority, and this stand down is an important step to make certain we are doing everything possible to prevent accidents and protect our personnel." During the stand down, army pilots will focus on safety and training protocols to ensure they have the knowledge and capabilities to safely complete their assigned mission.

The stand down follows the most recent fatal incident, which occurred on 27 April when two AH-64 Apache helicopters collided near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, killing three soldiers and wounding another. This incident followed the crash of two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters last month during a nighttime training mission near Fort Campbell, Kentucky, which killed nine soldiers. The order mandates active-duty aviators to complete the 24-hour stand down and training by 5 May, while National Guard and Army Reserve units have until 31 May.

California regulators have passed new rules requiring zero-emission trucks to be the only medium and heavy-duty vehicles sold in the state by 2035. Existing fleets will also need to transition to zero-emission vehicles, with big rigs, local delivery vehicles, and government fleets transitioning by 2035, garbage trucks and local buses by 2039, and sleeper cab tractors and specialty trucks by 2042. The rule also comes with reductions in truck pollution. California is the only US state with permission to establish its own emission standards for motor vehicles. Many businesses and utilities have raised concerns about purchasing the required zero-emission vehicles, while environmentalists have welcomed the state’s decision. The California Air Resources Board estimates that the reduced pollution from the truck rules will save $26.6bn in health savings and $48bn in trucking operating costs. The board argues that 135 models of zero-emission trucks are being manufactured, and incentives will be available for new vehicles and infrastructure. The new rules follow recent decisions to require that an increasing percentage of annual truck sales in California be zero-emission vehicles and to ban sales of new gasoline cars by 2035.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito has disclosed that he might have a pretty good idea of who leaked the draft of the abortion opinion which overturned the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, an interview with Wall Street Journal opinion writers published last Friday revealed. However, he doesn't have sufficient evidence to name the person. The leaked draft, which was published in May last year by POLITICO, indicated that the Court would revoke the constitutional right to abortion established by Roe v. Wade. The Court officially revoked abortion rights in June, infuriating pro-choice citizens and sparking a lot of allegations. Republicans at the time claimed without any evidence that someone on the political left had leaked the opinion in order to prevent it from becoming law. Following a months-long investigation, the Supreme Court Marshal said that it lacked sufficient evidence to pinpoint the person who leaked the document or how the draft opinion ended up with POLITICO. Alito claimed that the leak made the justices who signed the draft opinion "targets of assassination."

Thursday saw the failure of two abortion bills in red states South Carolina and Nebraska after Republican state legislators voted against them. The veto-proof South Carolina GOP saw six Republican Senators voting against a near-total ban on abortion, causing its third defeat. One of the female Senators against the ban accused GOP Majority Leader of “taking [them] off a cliff on abortion.” Meanwhile, in Nebraska, an 80-year-old Republican leader abstained from a vote supporting the restriction of the abortion window from 20 weeks to six weeks. The legislator cited evidence of voter backlash against strict abortion law changes after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Actions taken by Republicans in other states suggest that the party may be having difficulty agreeing on how far is too far when it comes to restrictions on abortion, with several states withdrawing support for abortion classification as homicide and others considering adding exceptions to stringent abortion restrictions.

Montana has joined a growing number of states in the U.S. to restrict transition care for transgender minors. Governor Greg Gianforte signed the bill on Friday, which prohibits transitional hormone treatments and surgeries for transgender people under 18. The bill led to a standoff with Representative Zooey Zephyr, one of Montana's only transgender lawmakers, who called the ban “tantamount to torture.” In what many regard as an “unconscionable” move, the Republican-controlled house blocked Ms. Zephyr from the house floor for the rest of the legislative session. The ban has been opposed by Gianforte’s son, who identifies as nonbinary. The legislation in Montana comes amid a growing trend among roughly a dozen states in the U.S. that have adopted similar laws restricting transition care. The move has drawn public backlash, with all sides awaiting a legal outcome on the controversial issue.

Erick Aguirre, a Texas man, has been accused of fatally shooting Elliot Nix during a dinner date on April 11 after Nix allegedly posed as a parking attendant and scammed Aguirre out of $40. According to the court records, after discovering the scam, Aguirre paused his dinner date, grabbed a pistol from his car and went after Nix. A witness claimed he heard a gunshot before he saw Aguirre “nonchalantly walking back to his car with the gun in his hand” and returning to the restaurant to continue the date with his girlfriend. Aguirre’s date claimed she was unaware of the shooting and only knew that Aguirre had "just scared the guy and everything was fine."

Aguirre’s bond was set at $200,000 and has been charged with murder. He has not yet released a statement regarding the incident. The woman who was on the dinner date with him is named as a person of interest but has not been charged with any crime, according to her attorney. This incident follows a growing trend of gun violence in the United States, where disagreements and mundane disputes have led to fatal outbreaks of violence.

On Friday morning, Russia launched a missile strike on Uman, a small city in central Ukraine, killing at least 23 people, including four children. The missiles were reportedly launched from Russian aircraft in the Caspian Sea area, with 21 out of the 23 missiles being intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses. The attack caused significant damage to more than ten apartment buildings and other pieces of civil infrastructure. The Uman strike, by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, is thought to have caused the highest number of civilian casualties in a single incident since a missile strike in Dnipro in January. While the Ukrainian military was able to shoot down the majority of the incoming missiles, the missile strike shows Russia's ability to strike targets across Ukraine whenever and wherever it pleases. Political scientist Koshel speculated that the Russian leader's emotional state might have driven the missile strike. Uman is around 125 miles south of the capital Kyiv and over 200 miles from the front line, with no clear military target in the area. The missile strike has drawn international condemnation.

Heavy fighting continues in Sudan's West Darfur with dozens of deaths being reported this week. Despite the extension of the ceasefire between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, heavy gunfire and explosions are still ongoing in the capital Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman. A wide-ranging group of international mediators is intensifying its pressure on the rival generals to enter talks on resolving the crisis that has killed hundreds so far but so far, only temporary ceasefires have been reached, which have a high chance of failing. The UN has warned of the potential of further violence escalation in the West Darfur region, where a two-decade-old conflict has resurfaced with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Even though the ceasefire is supposed to last until Sunday midnight, clashes in Kafouri, where the military's warplanes bombed its rivals, have continued between the two warring sides. The situation in West Darfur’s capital el-Geneina is reportedly dire, with a major hospital supported by Doctors without Borders being looted during a violent intrusion over the past two days. Turkish evacuation planes have also come under fire in the region, with no casualties being reported.

India has officially overtaken China as the world's most populous country, with an estimated 1.43 billion people. While population growth is slowing in both countries, India's youthful population means it will continue growing for decades. This has experts warning that women from Indigenous groups, lower castes and other marginalized communities often face greater obstacles in making their own reproductive decisions. Sanghamitra Singh, lead for policy and programs at the Population Foundation of India, says "access to health services continues to be determined by factors such as where a woman lives, how educated she is, her wealth quintile, and the community she belongs to". While India's fertility rate has fallen as women gain greater access to education and contraception, population growth across India is uneven. This milestone raises important questions about the future of women's reproductive rights in India, particularly for vulnerable communities who may not have access to the resources needed to make informed choices about their bodies.

Is Illinois' ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines a violation of the US Constitution and the Second Amendment's right to bear arms? The Southern District of Illinois has blocked the enforcement of the Protect Illinois Communities Act until a lawsuit is resolved. Judge Stephen P. McGlynn stated in his 29-page opinion that the law is likely to be found unconstitutional at trial and that law-abiding citizens will suffer harm without a preliminary injunction. He also emphasized that the law cannot be used to reduce the rights of citizens based on the senseless acts of a relative few.

The law aims to curb the number of shooting incidents in the city and restricts the manufacture, sale, and possession of some 190 firearms and large-capacity magazines. While gun control advocates claim it is necessary to reduce firearms-related violence, gun rights groups have sued the state, stating that the law violates Second Amendment protections. The decision of the Southern Illinois court contradicts an earlier ruling by a judge in the Northern District of Illinois, and plaintiffs have indicated that they are preparing to appeal.

A Republican Montana lawmaker, Kerri Seekins-Crowe, has sparked controversy for suggesting that she would rather risk her daughter's suicide than the child transition. Ms. Seekins-Crowe said in March that her daughter "was suicidal for three years" and when asked if she'd do anything to save her, her answer was "no." She did not reveal whether her daughter identified as transgender, but she sponsored a bill to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. This has brought her under criticism and ridicule from people who do not agree that a parent should prioritize their child's mental and emotional wellbeing. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., lambasted the GOP lawmaker on Twitter on Thursday for her remarks. The comment was also met with anger from the LGBTQ+ community, as clashes over the rights of transgender people have become more pronounced in Montana's legislature. Montana's governor, Greg Gianforte, is also facing lobbying from someone close to him; his son, David Gianforte, identifies as nonbinary and has pleaded with his father to reject what he called "immoral, unjust" bills backed by Republicans.

The Golden State Warriors took a gamble in their first-round series against the Sacramento Kings by bringing Draymond Green off the bench. In Game 5, that gamble paid off, as Green had one of his best playoff games since the 2016 NBA Finals, scoring 21 points and dishing out seven assists. This move allowed Jordan Poole, who may be inconsistent with his shooting, but provides spacing and finishing ability, to start, opening the court for the rest of the team. Kevon Looney also proved to be a crucial player, pulling down 22 rebounds and becoming the only player in playoff history to record 50+ rebounds, 20+ assists, and 5 (or fewer) turnovers in a three-game span. This new lineup has been exposing Domantas Sabonis's lack of rim protection, and the Kings have struggled to find an answer to defend the Warriors' new lineup. The Warriors may have struggled with spacing earlier this season when Looney and Green were on the floor, but in the past three games of this series, the Warriors are showing their strength in spacing, reminiscent of their strength during their four NBA titles. Will this move to bring Green off the bench be a permanent shift for the Warriors?

Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody's mother, Rona Moody, took to Twitter to express her appreciation for a fan spotted during their game against the Sacramento Kings. The tweet shows a photo of a random Warriors fan sporting Moody's No. 4 jersey at the Chase Center during the Warriors' Game 3 win over the Kings. The caption read, "I've worn my son's jersey every single game for two seasons straight to make sure that there was at least one in the arena every game. Planning to continue until I start to see others wearing it..... well I guess it's happening." Moody had a great game, scoring 13 points and three rebounds in his first game back from an illness.

Though a small event, the tweet has gone viral on social media platforms, spreading awareness of Rona Moody's dedication to her son and the recognition of a true fan. As for Moody, the young guard is playing in his second year in the league after being drafted 14th overall by the Warriors out of Arkansas in 2021. Moody's influence is growing on and off the court, making him an up-and-coming player to watch.

During the second quarter of a must-win Game 6 for the Sacramento Kings against the Golden State Warriors, Domantas Sabonis was elbowed in the face by Kevon Looney. Despite the injury, the referees did not call a foul on the play, leaving fans outraged. Slow-motion replays clearly show Looney's elbow connecting with Sabonis' face during a jump ball. Sabonis stayed in the game but registered only 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 turnovers. Sabonis was already playing with five fouls in the fourth quarter and was visibly frustrated, begging the referees to "let him play". Despite the injury, the Kings were firing on all cylinders, with De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk combining for over 50 points, and the Kings shooting 40% from beyond the arc. Sacramento ultimately won the game, priming themselves to force a Game 7 against the Warriors. This begs the question: did the referees miss a crucial foul during the game that could have hurt the chances of the Kings? Fans seem to think so, with social media lighting up with calls for more thorough refereeing in future games.

Golden State Warriors' general manager, Bob Myers, has stated that managing player minutes in the playoffs is more aggressive than in the regular season. This comes as reports suggest that head coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors medical team are closely monitoring the usage of Steph Curry, who has been averaging 39.5 minutes per game during the first round playoff series against the Sacramento Kings. In Game 4, Curry played for 42:42 minutes. Kerr is proposing to keep Curry's minutes at 38 minutes per game with five minutes rest each half. As head coach, Kerr acknowledges that he would alter plans according to playoff gameplay, with each game being different. Curry's 158 minutes in the series' first four games was the highest total on the team, with Klay Thompson (148) second and Andrew Wiggins (139) third. With the series tied at two games apiece, the Warriors will play their fifth game against the Kings, broadcast on ESPN and NBCSBA on Friday at 5 pm.

Developing Asia is set to grow at 4.8% this year and next, according to the Asian Development Bank’s outlook. The positive forecast comes as the region reopens with “impressive dynamism,” following the pandemic. Private consumption, investment, and services, including tourism, are reviving, boosting the outlook for the region and the global economy. The standout growth region this year will be South Asia, with India’s strength driving growth of 5.5%, followed by Indonesia at 4.5%. The World Bank says while region-wide economic activity has recovered, many Pacific island countries have output levels below pre-pandemic levels. The Bank warns that a lack of productivity-enhancing structural reforms over the past two decades means convergence between East Asia and Pacific countries with high-income countries has stalled. The International Monetary Fund expects China's post-pandemic reopening to bolster global growth, as advanced economies face the risk of a hard landing.

Stephen Curry has been on fire this playoff season, leading the Golden State Warriors to a crucial win against the Sacramento Kings. However, it's not just his talent on the court that's driving his success. Curry's family is a major source of support for him, and it's showing in his performance. After the game, the star celebrated with his wife Ayesha and daughter Riley, showcasing a special handshake they have. The couple also has two other children, Ryan and Canon, who have been seen displaying impressive ball-handling skills themselves. The Currys come from a family of athletes, including Steph's father Dell and brother Seth, as well as his mother Sonya, a college volleyball star. Despite the family's athletic prowess, Curry stresses that there's no pressure on his kids to follow in their footsteps. Ultimately, he wants his children to find their passions and supports them in whatever they choose. In the meantime, the Curry family continues to cheer on the Warriors, with Steph putting on an impressive performance on the court.

Draymond Green, forward for the Golden State Warriors, recently stated that he believes his teammate, Stephen Curry, is the best basketball player of all time. Green lauds Curry's intense confidence that sets him apart from other players. While Michael Jordan and LeBron James are often seen as the top contenders for the GOAT title, Green's sentiments are not so easily dismissed, as Curry's unique skill set, including his shooting ability, makes him a strong contender for the title. Curry currently holds the record for the most 3-pointers made in NBA history, and continues to have an impressive performance in the NBA playoffs, averaging over 30 points a game against the Sacramento Kings.

Green's statement also reflects the close relationship the Warriors' teammates share after having won four NBA championships together. While some may disagree with Green's opinions, it cannot be denied that Curry is a highly skilled and successful player who has set himself apart in the eyes of many fans and analysts alike.

As the NBA playoffs continue, all eyes are on Tyrese Maxey and Stephen Curry to lead their respective teams to victories in their upcoming games. Maxey’s Philadelphia 76ers aim to level with the Brooklyn Nets while Curry’s Golden State Warriors face the Sacramento Kings. With much of the pregame attention focused on these two players, it is worth considering some of the options for prop bets.

A strong option for Maxey would be betting on him to make over 2.5 threes. While he was relatively quiet in game one of the playoffs, Maxey has shown that he can score from beyond the arc and is averaging 14.5 field goal attempts since the all-star break. Against a Nets team that allows opponents to shoot over 36% from deep, Maxey may be poised for a breakout performance.

Meanwhile, Curry’s consistent scoring ability makes picking him for over 29.5 points a safe bet. Despite the Kings’ recent woes, Curry should be able to continue to put up impressive scoring numbers. He has already cleared this line in three of his five games against the Kings this season, including the playoffs.

As always, these prop bets are up for grabs and could go either way. But if Maxey and Curry play as expected, they could very well provide a significant payout for those who bet on them.

Draymond Green has always been known for his defensive prowess, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in the 2016-17 season. However, he has shown that he can bring his offensive firepower when his team needs it the most. Green's highest-scoring game of his career came in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Portland Trailblazers, where he poured in 37 points, going 8-12 from beyond the arc. He also had nine rebounds and eight assists, putting up a near triple-double. Despite Green's brilliant performance, the Warriors lost the game 120-108, although they won the series 4-1.

Green's second-highest scoring game of his career was when he scored 32 points against the Memphis Grizzlies. In the third-highest scoring game, Green scored 31 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he also had 15 rebounds and nine assists, coming close to a triple-double once again.

Green scored 29 points in the fourth-highest scoring game of his career, where the Warriors played against the New Orleans Pelicans. The fifth-highest scoring game of Green's career came in the 2017-18 season, where he scored 28 points against the Charlotte Hornets. It is clear that Green can be an offensive threat when his team needs him to step up.

Despite a recent finger injury, De'Aaron Fox, the Kings' star point guard, has announced that he will play in the upcoming Game 5 against the Golden State Warriors. Fox suffered an avulsion fracture to the tip of his left index finger, which is his shooting hand during the last game. There's precedent for players succeeding despite this injury: for example, Kobe Bryant played the whole 2010 playoffs with an avulsion fracture to his finger, which he treated with a splint and later a tape job. Fox was seen practicing his shooting technique on Tuesday with a splint on the finger. However, it is unclear whether Fox's shooting and ballhandling would be affected. Despite these uncertainties, the Kings are likely to prefer an injured Fox to their other options, and the Warriors would probably prefer facing an injured, rather than fully-fit Fox. Fox's ability to play through the pain will be key –-- given he has not shown any hesitation to take physical contact, we'll see how he reacts to unexpected contact. Fox's playing in Game 5 could be a game-changer or a factor worth watching.

Andrew Wiggins has faced an incredibly difficult year with injuries causing him to miss a significant amount of games. However, his performance in the first four games of the Battle for Northern California has demonstrated that he is rising to the challenge for the Warriors. During the playoffs so far, Wiggins has been a key player for the team, performing in both an offensive and defensive capacity. He has been instrumental in the Warriors' defense against De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings, limiting them to an average of 28.2 points per game across the series. Kerr comments that the Warriors need him to perform in both positions to win. Wiggins' teammates have also praised his performance with Jordan Poole stating that they need him to lead the way.

Wiggins' stats in the playoffs so far include an average of 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. The Warriors will continue to rely on Wiggins in the remaining playoff games to help them advance to the next round, and his performance so far shows that he is a force to be reckoned with.

Draymond Green, a four-time All-Star and 2017 DPOY, has been an integral part of the Golden State Warriors team. He is one of the team's leaders and is known for his defensive skills. Recently, former Super Bowl winner Keyshawn Johnson discussed the team's chances of winning a championship with Green on the court. In response, Johnson called Green a "defensive liability." He further added that Green is the heart and soul of the team, which is important to have on the floor at times but becomes a little bizarre due to his off-court antics.

This is not the first time Green has been criticized for his behavior on and off the court. However, basketball analysts like Dan Patrick have argued that Green is a "necessary evil" that the team needs to win a championship. He bemoaned that Green is not getting the help he needs in controlling his temperament from the team's core. Green is a repeat offender of altercations, and he recently received a one-game suspension. Despite his off-court issues, Green continues to be an essential part of the Warriors' on-court production.