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Prince George’s unexpected reply got everyone talking when they had a spat in the playground

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Prince George’s unexpected reply got everyone talking when they had a spat in the playground

当乔治王子在操场上发生口角时，他出人意料的回答引起了大家的议论

‘My dad will be king’: People still find Prince George’s school moment adorable. Image source: Royal Family

Throughout Prince George’s life, there are many stories about the young prince, but not many seem to be related to his character. However, a seemingly innocuous story from the prince’s youth has resurfaced, instantly piqued the interest of royal enthusiasts. “My dad is going to be king, so be careful,” Prince George told a classmate while playing in the playground, royal writer Katie Nicholl reported. new zealand herald. The incident is believed to have occurred while Prince George was attending Thomas’s Battersea School in south London, which he attended before attending Eton College.The quote appears in Nicholl’s book The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Royal Family. Although the quote went viral on social media platforms, many royal enthusiasts seemed to view it as an insight into the future king’s unusual upbringing rather than any form of arrogance. Prince George was still young when the reported incident occurred and trying to understand his role within the royal hierarchy.William and Kate balance responsibilities with daily lifeRoyal watchers have long commented on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s efforts to raise their children normally despite constant media attention. As journalist Katie Nicholl points out in her book, the Prince and Princess of Wales made sure George didn’t suffer the stress associated with his eventual royal duties. However, they also slowly begin to introduce George to the meaning of the crown and its relevance to him.Nicole said they grew up recognizing who he was and his role. This approach defined William and Kate’s parenting for many years. In fact, William and Kate are often seen taking their children to school, participating in various games and outdoor activities.Another royal commentator, Jenny Bond, said William made a special effort to give his children the opportunity to have open emotional relationships with other people, just like children in ordinary families. the sun.Children often repeat their ideas about identityChildren are thought to show a sense of relief or have emotional reactions to disputes at school, particularly as they begin to recognize their family identity and their role in society.according to American Academy of PediatricsFrom early school to pre-adolescence, children are developing their sense of self and trying to understand how they relate to the world around them.Psychologists stress that children may refer to family roles and achievements during arguments because they do not yet know how to regulate their emotions and communicate effectively. Children often test their boundaries and identities through social interactions with other children. However, she points out that the condition is often just part of emotional development rather than any behavioral problem.To most people, Prince George’s statement will sound less like some royal announcement and more like a child’s normal reaction to a playground dispute.

Prince George's cheeky comeback from school row leaves royal fans smiling

Prince George has left royal fans smiling with his cheeky comeback from a school row.

The reason why this story is popular with many peopleOne reason is that it humanizes a young prince who usually appears alone at ceremonies. Instead of focusing on royal titles and protocol, the story makes Prince George look like any other kid his age. Another factor was the struggles he had to go through growing up, knowing that great responsibility awaited him.For the royalists, it was not a question of status but of childhood honesty. Amidst the hubbub surrounding the young royal, a young boy finds himself, his parents doing their best to prepare him for a very different future.

A 2,000-year-old stone labyrinth discovered in India may change our understanding of ancient Roman connections

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A 2,000-year-old stone labyrinth discovered in India may change our understanding of ancient Roman connections

A 2,000-year-old stone labyrinth discovered in India may change our understanding of ancient Roman connections

The mysterious circular stone structures discovered in the grasslands of Maharashtra have attracted considerable attention from archaeologists and historians across the world. The formation, hidden in the Boramani grasslands of Solapur district, is currently considered the largest circular maze in India, and experts estimate it may be more than 2,000 years old. The discovery is important not only because of its size, but also because it may reveal ancient trade routes that connected India with the Roman world.The Satavahana dynasty ruled most of the Deccan region from about 200 BC to 200 AD. During this period, India maintained extensive trade ties with Rome and other Mediterranean powers. Early excavations in Maharashtra have uncovered artifacts related to the Roman world, including bronze mirrors and statues related to the Greco-Roman sea god Poseidon.Researchers say the maze appears to bear a striking resemblance to patterns found in ancient Greek and Roman designs. This detail has sparked new discussions about the deep commercial and cultural ties between India and Mediterranean civilizations during the Satavahana period.

India’s largest circular maze has been hidden for centuries

The maze is approximately 50 feet in diameter and contains 15 circular loops made of carefully arranged stones. Archaeologists say this makes it the largest circular maze ever discovered in India. While a larger square labyrinth had been previously recorded in Tamil Nadu, no circular structure of this scale had been recorded before this discovery in Maharashtra.The site is located in the Boramani grasslands of Solapur district, an area known more for wildlife conservation than archeology. The labyrinth’s intricate design immediately stands out for its unusual circular pattern and precise stone layout. The researchers also found a layer of soil deposited between the stone rings, suggesting the formation had been largely untouched for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

Ancient stone structure that may have connected India to the Roman world

Sachin Patil, an archaeologist at the Deccan College in Pune, believes the labyrinth may have played an important role in guiding ancient traders across western India. According to researchers, Roman traders were active in the Deccan region in the early centuries AD, exchanging goods such as gold, wine, glassware and ornaments for Indian spices, silks, beads and indigo dye.The areas around Kolhapur, Kalad, Tyre, Sangli, Satara and Solapur reportedly form part of a thriving inland trade network connected to western India’s ports. Historians often describe this route as an important commercial corridor, linking the Indian subcontinent to the Roman Empire through maritime trade in the Indian Ocean.The labyrinth resembles the design found on ancient coins of Crete during the Roman period. International labyrinth expert Jeff Saward has reportedly described the Boramani structure as one of the most important labyrinth discoveries in India. He explains that the design is within the classical labyrinth tradition but also contains features that are unique to India.

How the ancient labyrinth is connected to the chakravyuha of the Mahabharata

The structure is also related to the concept of “chakravyuha” mentioned in the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. In the Mahabharata, chakravyuha refers to a complex circular military formation designed to trap the enemy within a swirling layer of defense.Researchers say the Borramani maze bears visual similarities to these circular structures. In many Indian traditions, labyrinthine designs are associated with spirituality, meditation, fertility, and cosmic symbolism. Local communities reportedly use names such as “kode”, “manchakra” and “yamadwar” to refer to such patterns.

A 2,000-year-old maze discovered

Interestingly, this ancient structure was not originally discovered by archaeologists. Members of a local conservation group reportedly noticed the unusual stone pattern while conducting a wildlife survey in the Boramani grasslands. The area is famous for species such as the Great Indian Bustard and the Indian Wolf.Researchers later confirmed that the maze may be ancient and historically significant. Archaeologists say the careful arrangement of stones and the weathering condition of the site strongly suggest that it dates back to the Satavahana era, a period known for intense trade activities and cultural exchanges.

Tommy Robinson warns Nigerian Christians face ‘genocide’ at London march

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Tommy Robinson warns Nigerian Christians face ‘genocide’ at London march

“我们不会保持沉默”：汤米·罗宾逊在伦敦游行中警告针对尼日利亚基督徒的“种族灭绝”RobinsonStephen Yaxley-Lennon, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, organized the rally, which addressed topics including British identity, immigration and national security.In an address to supporters, Robinson spoke of the violence faced by Christians in parts of Nigeria and the wider Middle East.“While Christians are being massacred in every Middle Eastern country … genocide is happening right now,” Robinson said.“This has been happening in Nigeria for many years. We will not remain silent when our Christian brothers and sisters are raped and plundered in any country in the world.”“While others ignore you or avoid you and your plight, the patriotic men and women of the United Kingdom will not,” Robinson wrote on X (formerly Twitter).“You are our brothers and sisters in Christ.”Anglican Bishop Jwan Zhumbes of the Diocese of Bukuru in Nigeria spoke at the meeting and talked about the situation faced by Christian communities in the country’s central belt.“Primarily Christian communities are being attacked every day. People are being killed. Churches are being razed to the ground. Entire communities are being looted,” Zumbes said.He claimed that the group included Boko HaramISWAP militants and Fulani armed groups have caused years of insecurity, kidnappings and attacks against Christians in some areas.“Christian persecution is a reality in Nigeria,” Jumbes said.The bishop also claimed that kidnappers had previously tried to abduct him from his home in Nigeria.Christian advocacy groups have repeatedly highlighted concerns about religious violence and insecurity in Nigeria. The country is currently ranked seventh on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, which monitors persecution faced by Christians around the world.The group has reported thousands of killings linked to extremist violence and armed attacks in northern and central Nigeria in recent years.Jumbeth urged British Christians not to “give up on the gospel” and warned that religious extremism and violence were not just a regional problem.“Please, this is my wish, my prayer, that you would hold on to this gospel,” he said.“May Christ reign in England.”

Who is Krystal Anderson? South Carolina mom’s body found four years after she was murdered by boyfriend

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Who is Krystal Anderson? South Carolina mom’s body found four years after she was murdered by boyfriend

body is one south carolina Authorities believe the mother was found four years after she was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, People reports. Krystal Anderson is missing from Aiken County, South Carolina.

Who is Krystal Anderson? Four years after South Carolina mother was murdered by boyfriend Tony Berry, body found during missing person search (Aiken County Sheriff's Office)
Who is Krystal Anderson? Four years after South Carolina mother was murdered by boyfriend Tony Berry, body found during missing person search (Aiken County Sheriff’s Office)

Who is Krystal Anderson?

Anderson, a mother of four, left behind four children when she disappeared.

“I try not to think the worst, but sometimes I do,” her sister Shadria Smothers told WRDW at the time, stressing that Anderson would never choose to leave her children. “She was a great mom, a great sister. She was my little sister. She always looked up to me and she always called me when she wanted to do something.”

Learn more | Who is Sarah Carroll? A 20-year-old female college student in Michigan was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend after stalking her for months.

“Even if she has a question, she reaches out to me,” she added. “She might contact her friends. There’s always someone who knows her whereabouts. She’s never done anything like this before.”

Anderson’s boyfriend, Tony Berry, was later arrested and charged with kidnapping and murder, WACH reported. After Anderson was arrested DNA It was allegedly found in the trunk of his car. The vehicle was found burned in a wooded area in Newberry County.

“If you know anything, please tell me, I’m begging on behalf of her children,” Smothers said in August 2025, three years after her sister disappeared. “I know they say life isn’t fair, but it really isn’t fair to a family who is in the dark and grieving a loved one.”

Aiken County recently said deputies reported finding human remains was buried off Highway 37 near Blackville, WRDW reported. DNA testing is still ongoing and officials believe the remains may belong to Anderson.

Learn more | Who is Ruby Garcia? Michigan woman killed by illegal immigrant in drunken carjacking attempt

“The items found on the remains were identical to Krystal’s items,” private investigator Chandra Cleveland told the outlet. “It’s devastating… just like the first day she disappeared.”

“Perhaps now we can give her a final resting place and her children will be able to cope with the fact that their mother is not coming back,” she added.

Berry’s trial on suspicion of kidnapping and murder is scheduled for next week. However, the discovery of her body delayed the trial, the Augusta Press reported.

As of 2025, Anderson’s children were living in separate homes with different family members.

“I think the hardest thing for them is being apart,” Smothers told WACH. “They FaceTimed frequently throughout the week and were able to talk to each other.”

“I can say that for my youngest daughter, who is six, it’s been hard for her because she went from growing up with siblings to growing up like an only child,” she added.

Ukraine launches biggest attack on Russia in more than a year, killing 4

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Ukraine launches biggest attack on Russia in more than a year, killing 4

Ukraine launched its largest attack in more than a year, more than 500 drones were shot down in Russia: 4 people died

Ukraine launched one of the largest drone offensives in the war overnight, carrying out large-scale aerial attacks against multiple Russian regions, including Moscow. Russian authorities said the attack involved more than 500 drones.Officials said the attack was the largest to hit the Russian capital in more than a year, killing at least four people, injuring many others and damaging residential buildings and infrastructure in different areas.Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 556 Ukrainian drones in more than a dozen regions in nighttime attacks, the Russian Defense Ministry said, with emergency responses following reports of explosions in Moscow and western Russia.At least four people were killed in the attack, according to regional authorities. Three deaths were reported in the Moscow region and one in the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border.Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov said at least three people were killed in the attack. Vorobyov said a woman died after a drone hit a private house and another was trapped under rubble for several hours during the rescue operation. Two men were also reported dead in separate incidents related to the attack.“A drone crashed into a private house, killing a woman. Another person was trapped under the rubble,” Vorobyov wrote on Telegram.He added that the attack began in the early hours of the morning, forcing Russian air defense forces to fight continuously.“Air defense forces have been repelling a large-scale drone attack on the capital region since 3 a.m.,” he said, adding that at least four people were injured during the attack and multiple infrastructures were targeted.Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defense systems intercepted at least 74 drones approaching the capital during the night, making it one of the worst nights of drone attacks the city has faced during the conflict. While Moscow and nearby areas have been targeted by Ukrainian drones before, attacks directly affecting the Russian capital have remained relatively rare.Sobyanin said that fragments of the intercepted drone fell in different areas, injuring 12 people in the Moscow region.“There has been minor damage to the location where the debris fell,” the mayor said in a post on Telegram, urging residents to follow emergency instructions.Russian authorities did not immediately disclose the full extent of the damage to infrastructure, but officials said residential areas and strategic facilities were among the intended targets.The latest attack comes just days after Ukraine’s president Vladimir Zelensky Russia has vowed to step up retaliation after it launched a major air strike in Kiev that killed 24 people. Zelensky warned that Moscow would face “consequences” for its continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilians.Moscow and Kiev have stepped up airstrikes in recent days after completing a prisoner exchange and the collapse of a temporary three-day truce that expired earlier this week.Ukraine has repeatedly defended its drone operations inside Russia, saying it targets military infrastructure, logistics centers and energy facilities supporting Moscow’s war effort. However, Russia accuses Kiev of deliberately targeting civilian areas and trying to spread fear by attacking densely populated areas.The conflict has increasingly turned into a war of long-range missile and drone strikes, with both countries using unmanned systems on an unprecedented scale. Analysts say the increasing sophistication and number of drone attacks has forced both sides to invest heavily in layered air defense systems and electronic warfare capabilities.

Annie Guthrie and Tommaso Cioni return to the spotlight in the search for Nancy Guthrie, “Where is the concern or urgency…?”

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Annie Guthrie and Tommaso Cioni return to the spotlight in the search for Nancy Guthrie, “Where is the concern or urgency…?”

Anne Guthrie and her husband, Tommaso Scionithey are brought back into focus in the search for Annie and Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, Nancy Guthrie. Social media users are now questioning Anne and Tommaso for not expressing concern or urgency in finding the 84-year-old.

FILE PHOTO: Drone footage shows media coverage near Nancy Guthrie's home. Nancy Guthrie is the 84-year-old mother of American journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie. She disappeared from her home in Tucson, USA on February 9, 2026. Reuters/Rebecca Noble/File Photo(REUTERS)
FILE PHOTO: Drone footage shows media coverage near Nancy Guthrie’s home. Nancy Guthrie is the 84-year-old mother of American journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie. She disappeared from her home in Tucson, USA on February 9, 2026. Reuters/Rebecca Noble/File Photo(REUTERS)

The Crime Network, which shares true crime updates on

Many agreed with the narrative in the comments section, with one user saying: “Their silence is not normal and it means a lot!” “Even if they don’t want their faces on TV, in my opinion they can at least make a statement. If I had nothing to do with my mother’s kidnapping, I would be searching, posting and being interviewed day and night. You’re right, silence means everything.”

Learn more | Nancy Guthrie’s neighbor claims she saw a “strange man” in the days before she disappeared, “hunched over and wearing street clothes…”

Guthrie family cleared of suspicion

Reporter Ashleigh Banfield previously claim Tommaso may have been the “primary suspect” in the case, and authorities quickly announced that no suspects had been identified.

Learn more | Where is Anne Guthrie? Hours after the video of the subject was released, police conducted a search warrant in the Tucson neighborhood where Nancy’s daughter lives.

The authorities had previously cleared nancy’s family Is there anything suspicious in the search for a missing 84-year-old woman. This means that the host of the Today Show Savannahher siblings Anne and Camron, and Tommaso, were all cleared of any wrongdoing in connection with the case.

Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffendaver previously responded to speculation circulating on social media about Nancy’s case, A clever warning for true crime content creators and YouTube sleuths They could face legal consequences for accusing people on social media. Armchair detectives pointed the finger at Tommaso. Coffindafer refuted the dangerous theory during the investigation.

Pakistan Interior Minister Naqvi’s visit to Tehran related to resumption of talks between Iran and the United States: media reports

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Pakistan Interior Minister Naqvi’s visit to Tehran related to resumption of talks between Iran and the United States: media reports

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s previously unannounced visit to Tehran has been linked to by Pakistani and Iranian media as Islamabad continues its efforts to revive the stalled Iran-US peace process amid ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Pakistan Interior Minister Naqvi's visit to Tehran related to resumption of talks between Iran and the United States: media reports
Pakistan Interior Minister Naqvi’s visit to Tehran related to resumption of talks between Iran and the United States: media reports

Naqvi’s two-day visit comes after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest response to U.S. overtures, Dawn newspaper reported on Sunday, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.

The report also said that after the momentum generated by previous rounds of negotiations in Islamabad slowed sharply, Pakistan is continuing its shuttle diplomacy aimed at preventing the negotiations from completely collapsing.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency also described Naqvi’s trip as part of Pakistan’s “continuous efforts to promote dialogue and promote regional peace.”

The visit, formally framed around bilateral and border security cooperation, comes as a fragile ceasefire brokered through Pakistan continues to be unstable amid intermittent tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and prolonged disruptions in global energy transport.

Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday and is expected to hold meetings with senior Iranian officials during his visit to discuss bilateral security issues and the broader regional situation. Shortly after landing, he met with Iranian Foreign Minister Eskandar Momenei.

The two interior ministers discussed Iran-Pakistan relations, regional developments and “prospects for the resumption of peace negotiations” between Iran and the United States, Tasnim News Agency reported.

The two sides also discussed border trade, transit, exchange of goods and bilateral cooperation, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported, adding that the recent high-level contacts between Tehran and Islamabad were part of intensified consultations following a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire.

The visit, which followed Trump’s visit to Beijing and a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, did not result in a clear breakthrough on the current conflict, despite speculation that Beijing might quietly encourage Tehran to compromise.

Analysts pointed out that Trump continued to publicly emphasize coercive leverage after returning from Beijing, while indicating limited flexibility in the enrichment schedule.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he could accept a 20-year pause in Iran’s nuclear activities if Iran provided what he called “real” guarantees, appearing to indicate some flexibility in Washington’s earlier demands for a permanent end to Iran’s nuclear program.

Meanwhile, the U.S. leader bluntly dismissed Tehran’s latest overtures and complained that Iranian officials had reneged on previous understandings about handling stockpiles of highly enriched uranium.

The impasse has fueled concerns that negotiations are increasingly moving into a protracted phase of diplomacy and pressure rather than toward any imminent comprehensive solution.

According to “Dawn” citing Iranian media reports, at least 1,260 people were killed in Tehran and more than 2,800 were injured in the attacks by the United States and Israel. Tehran’s municipal government also said 51,000 residential units, 10,733 cars and 754 motorcycles were damaged.

While peace efforts have hit huge hurdles so far, Pakistan continues to push for a negotiated solution and Naqvi’s visit is seen as significant given his close ties to Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Naqvi was part of a delegation led by Munir that visited Tehran last month, with negotiations between Iran and the United States the main focus of the trip.

This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.

Taliban formally recognizes child marriage through press rules, Afghan guidelines

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Taliban formally recognizes child marriage through press rules, Afghan guidelines

“处女的沉默可以被视为同意”：塔利班通过阿富汗新闻规则和指导方针正式承认童婚There are 31 articles in this regulation, titled “Principles of Separation of Spouses” According to Afghan media Amu TV, Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada approved the plan and published it in the regime’s official gazette in mid-May.The document outlines rules covering child marriage, missing husbands, forced separation, apostasy, accusations of adultery and other religious and legal matters.One of the most controversial provisions states that a “virgin’s” silence after reaching puberty may be interpreted as consent to marriage. However, the provision states that silence by a boy or a married woman does not automatically constitute consent.The decree also addresses “khiyar al-bulugh,” or “puberty option,” a concept in Islamic jurisprudence whereby children married at a young age can seek annulment of the marriage after reaching puberty.According to Article 5 of the regulations, if a minor is arranged by a relative other than his father or grandfather, the marriage will still be legally valid if the spouse has strong social adaptability and the dowry is appropriate. The children may then seek to have the marriage annulled, but only by a Taliban court order.Another provision said marriages involving “incompatible” spouses or unfair dowry would be deemed invalid.The provision gives broad powers to fathers and grandfathers over child marriages but states that such marriages may be annulled if the guardian is found to be abusive, mentally unsound or morally corrupt.The document further empowers Taliban judges to intervene in disputes involving accusations of adultery, religious conversion, husbands’ prolonged absences and “zihar”, a classic Islamic concept in which a husband compares his wife to a female relative who is prohibited from marrying. Under these provisions, a judge can order isolation, imprisonment or punishment in certain circumstances.The latest decree comes amid growing international criticism of the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls since they returned to power in August 2021.Afghan girls are prohibited from receiving education beyond sixth grade, women are barred from entering universities, and employment, travel and public participation are severely restricted.Some international organizations have described the Taliban’s policies as a system of “gender apartheid.” According to Girls Not Brides, nearly one-third of Afghan girls are married before the age of 18.“Child marriage is not a marriage in any meaningful sense. Children cannot properly consent, and treating silence as consent is dangerous because it completely eliminates girls’ voices,” political commentator Fahima Mohammad told the New York Post, criticizing the Taliban’s new rules.“As a Muslim, I also strongly disagree with the idea that this reflects Islam as a whole. The Quran itself is against coercion and abuse of women, so the Taliban’s position should not be considered ‘Islamic law’ in the broadest sense,” she added.

Donald Trump’s White House ballroom funding hits roadblock in US Senate

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Donald Trump’s White House ballroom funding hits roadblock in US Senate

Republican plans to allocate federal funds for President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom hit at least a temporary roadblock in the U.S. Senate on Saturday.

U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a rendering of the planned White House Ballroom and speaks as a media member raises his hand to ask a question aboard Air Force One aboard Air Force One flying to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 29, 2026. (Reuters archives)
U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a rendering of the planned White House Ballroom and speaks as a media member raises his hand to ask a question aboard Air Force One aboard Air Force One flying to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., March 29, 2026. (Reuters archives)

Senate Democrats said Sen. Elizabeth McDonald, who advises lawmakers on the House’s complex procedural rules, concluded the spending did not comply with Senate budget rules, although Republicans plan to try to rewrite the bill to make it comply.

“Republicans tried to make taxpayers pay for Trump’s multibillion-dollar ballroom. Senate Democrats fought back and defeated their first attempt,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a statement.

Ryan Wrasse, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, said they would rewrite the legislation.

“Re-drafted, polished, resubmitted. None of this is an anomaly in the Byrd process,” he posted on X. The so-called Byrd rule process determines whether a provision complies with budget rules that allow certain fiscal legislation to pass with a simple majority.

Democrats say they will continue to oppose the project.

“The American people should not spend a dime on Trump’s gilded ballroom folly,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee.

Senate Republican leaders and the White House had sought to include $1 billion in security upgrades related to East Wing projects in a partisan budget bill that they had otherwise created specifically to pay for immigration enforcement. The administration told Republicans this week that $220 million of the funding will be used to secure the new East Wing and the remainder will be used for other security upgrades.

Republicans are seeking to overcome Democratic opposition to dance hall funding that circumvents Senate filibuster rules. The filibuster exception applies only to budget legislation, and all provisions must be primarily fiscal in nature, not policy items, and meet other technical requirements.

According to Democrats, McDonough concluded that the provision, as drafted, required 60 votes because it funded activities that fell outside the jurisdiction of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

While Republicans could try to rewrite their bill to appease McDonough’s procedural concerns and continue funding the ballroom, it’s unclear whether the project has the support of enough Republicans to pass in the House or Senate. Republican leaders and the White House believe a new ballroom is needed to protect the president after a gunman was arrested trying to enter the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., told reporters Friday he would vote against the funding, saying his constituents wanted him to focus on affordability, not dance clubs.

Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky questioned why the money was needed when Trump initially said the ballroom project would be paid for entirely by private donations.

McDonough’s recommendation was generally accepted by senators, although technically the ruling was made by the Senate’s presiding officer. Some Republicans have suggested ignoring her suggestions in the past, but that’s highly unlikely because senators view the tactic as tantamount to eliminating the filibuster, a practice many of them still cherish.

Venezuela makes dramatic U-turn to expel Alex Saab, Maduro’s ‘bag men’ sent to US

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Venezuela makes dramatic U-turn to expel Alex Saab, Maduro’s ‘bag men’ sent to US

<b>Venezuela expels Alex Saab in dramatic U-turn, Maduro’s ‘bag men’ sent to US</b>” title=”FILE – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (L) and Alex Saab stand together during an event marking the anniversary of the 1958 coup that ousted dictator Marcos Pérez Jimenez in Caracas, Venezuela, January 23, 2024. (AP Photo/File)” decoding=”async” fetchpriority=”high”/></div> </div> </div> <div class=FILE – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (L) and Alex Saab stand together during an event marking the anniversary of the 1958 coup that ousted dictator Marcos Pérez Jimenez in Caracas, Venezuela, January 23, 2024. (AP Photo/File)

Venezuela expelled businessman Alex Saab, a close ally of former President Nicolas Maduro who faced multiple criminal investigations in the United States, in a dramatic reversal less than three years after he was pardoned by then-President Joe Biden as part of a prisoner exchange deal.Venezuelan immigration authorities announced the decision on Saturday, saying Saab’s deportation was based on several ongoing U.S. criminal investigations. While the statement did not specify where Saab was being sent, it referred to him only as a “Colombian citizen,” an apparent reference to Venezuelan law that prohibits the extradition of Venezuelan nationals.Saab, 54, has long been viewed by U.S. officials as Maduro’s “baggage” and may now become a key witness in cases involving the former Venezuelan leader. Maduro himself was arrested in a U.S. raid in January and is awaiting trial on drug charges in Manhattan.The expulsion marks a sharp decline in Saab’s standing, and Maduro and senior officials had viewed Saab’s return to Venezuela in 2023 as a diplomatic victory against Washington. After Maduro was arrested in Cape Verde in 2020 while refueling on his way to Iran, Maduro and then-acting President Delcy Rodriguez claimed that Saab was a Venezuelan diplomat on a humanitarian mission aimed at circumventing U.S. sanctions.Rodriguez has distanced himself from Saab since taking power after Maduro was ousted on January 3. She removed him from the cabinet, stripped him of his role as a liaison to foreign investors and reportedly excluded him from the country’s political and business networks. Rumors that Saab was either under house arrest or imprisoned have been circulating for months.His expulsion is expected to deepen divisions within Venezuela’s ruling Chavez movement, which is named after former president Hugo Chavez. Rodriguez has sought closer engagement with Washington, including opening Venezuela’s oil and mining industries to U.S. investment, a move that has angered hardline allies who have long decried the United States as an “empire.”Those critics include Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, one of the most influential figures within Venezuela’s security apparatus and himself the subject of U.S. criminal charges.In February, U.S. federal prosecutors spent months investigating Saab’s alleged involvement in a bribery conspiracy involving Venezuelan food import contracts. The investigation stems from a 2021 U.S. Justice Department case against long-time Saab partner Alvaro Pulido.The investigation focuses on CLAP, a government-run program created under Maduro to distribute staples such as rice, corn meal and cooking oil during Venezuela’s economic collapse and hyperinflationary crisis.According to the indictment, Saab was identified as “Co-conspirator 1” and allegedly helped establish a network of companies used to bribe a pro-Maduro governor who awarded inflated food import contracts from Mexico.Saab first came under U.S. scrutiny in 2020 when he was arrested in Cape Verde while traveling to Iran on a private jet. His extradition to the United States at the time sparked outrage from Maduro’s government, which insisted he had diplomatic status.Rodriguez praised Saab’s eventual return to Venezuela in 2023 as a “complete victory” over what she called a U.S. campaign of “lies and threats.” However, some Republicans criticized Biden’s decision to pardon Sabo. Senator Chuck Grassley wrote to then-Attorney General Merrick Garland that history “should remember (Saab) as a predator of the vulnerable.”Biden’s pardon was limited to a 2019 indictment alleging that Saab and Pulido paid bribes to obtain contracts to build low-income housing projects in Venezuela that were never completed. The pardon was part of a broader deal under which Venezuela freed imprisoned Americans and returned fugitive defense contractor Leonard Francis, widely known as “Fat Leonard.”Saab may now become a key witness for U.S. authorities. Before his first arrest, he secretly worked with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to help investigators probe corruption within Maduro’s inner circle, court documents and closed-door hearings show. As part of this cooperation, Saab seized more than $12 million related to illegal business transactions.Neil Schuster, Saab’s Miami-based attorney, declined to comment, and the U.S. Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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