David S. Norman, owner of TruKinetics LLC, a company that trains Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Response Teams (SRTs), testified in a 2021 deposition that he was involved in at least four lethal shootings during his tenure as a Phoenix Police officer. Records reviewed by WIRED reveal Norman was involved in six on-duty shootings, resulting in four fatalities and two injuries, with police stating he fired on armed suspects and exchanged gunfire in multiple instances. TruKinetics has received government contracts to train hundreds of SRT agents annually, raising questions about the nature of the training provided by a contractor with Norman’s background. This comes as SRTs are increasingly deployed for civil immigration enforcement and crowd control, operations previously outside their scope.
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A federal jury found that Elon Musk waited too long to file his lawsuit against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and others. This decision rejected Musk’s claims that Altman unlawfully enriched himself from the organization Musk and Altman co-founded, and also dismissed claims against Microsoft for aiding and abetting. The jury’s verdict, which was unanimous, focused on statute of limitations grounds, preserving the current structure of OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence company. Musk’s legal team intends to appeal the decision, arguing it was based on technicalities rather than the merits of the case.
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An ICE officer, Christian J. Castro, faces felony assault and false reporting charges for allegedly shooting a Venezuelan man and then fabricating the circumstances. Video evidence contradicted initial Homeland Security claims that the officer was assaulted, leading to the dismissal of charges against the victim and his roommate. This case is part of a broader effort by the Hennepin County Attorney to prosecute federal immigration agents involved in January shootings. Another ICE agent, Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., has also been charged with felony assault for an incident involving pointing a handgun at another vehicle.
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An active shooter incident has been reported at the Islamic Center of San Diego, with law enforcement confirming the tragic details of the event. Initial reports indicate a grim outcome, with a total of five individuals losing their lives. Of these, three are identified as victims, while the two perpetrators of the attack are also deceased. It appears that the security guard stationed at the entrance may have been among those killed, a particularly heartbreaking aspect of this incident. The swift actions of law enforcement were crucial in containing the situation, and thankfully, early reports from NBC News suggest that no staff members or children inside the center were injured, which is a small measure of relief amidst such profound sadness.… Continue reading
Amid deadlocked peace talks and a stand-off over the vital Strait of Hormuz, Iran has established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) to manage operations in the critical waterway. This new body, announced via X, signals Iran’s intention to formalize its control over the strait, with reports indicating that ships are already receiving regulations from a PGSA email address. The move follows earlier statements from Iranian officials about a system to manage traffic, and reports of initial revenue from an imposed toll system, a development that the United States and China have stated is unacceptable for international waterways.
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Donald Trump’s image as an aspirational entrepreneur has resonated with his base, who believed he would improve their economic standing. However, soaring inflation and his administration’s dealings with companies he invests in are undermining this perception. As Trump’s own financial disclosures reveal questionable transactions, his personal wealth may transform from a political asset into a liability, potentially alienating supporters as midterm elections approach.
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The Trump administration is withdrawing from the Permanent Joint Board on Defence, a long-standing advisory body for Canada-U.S. defense initiatives. This decision stems from claims that Canada has not met its defense spending commitments, particularly in relation to NATO’s target of 2% of GDP. U.S. Undersecretary of War Elbridge Colby cited a gap between rhetoric and reality regarding shared defense responsibilities. This move has been called a “needless provocation” that could impact crucial areas like NORAD modernization and future military procurement.
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During an official visit to the Netherlands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates by Leiden University authorities. These historic royal charters, known as the Leiden Copper Plates, had been preserved at the University’s Asian Library for over a century and represent a significant achievement in cultural cooperation and heritage restitution between India and the Netherlands. The collection, comprising inscriptions in Sanskrit and Tamil, offers invaluable insights into the Chola Empire’s administration, economy, and its extensive maritime and diplomatic ties with Southeast Asia.
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Ninety-three House Democrats are actively working to block a $1.77 billion taxpayer-funded settlement between President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. This settlement, part of dropping a lawsuit over leaked tax returns, could potentially reward Trump supporters, including those convicted of felonies related to the January 6th Capitol insurrection. Democrats argue the agreement is a fraudulent self-enrichment scheme, allowing the president to act as both plaintiff and defendant in a manufactured case to create a slush fund for his allies. The lawmakers have joined an amicus brief in court to prevent these taxpayer dollars from being distributed without transparency or accountability.
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Ukrainian long-range strikes have significantly impacted Russia’s oil industry, reducing its refining capacity by 10% in recent months. This has also forced Russian oil companies to shut down wells, a development considered particularly damaging given the nature of their production. President Zelenskyy asserts that these actions, coupled with international pressure, are pushing Russia toward bankruptcy and an eventual end to the conflict.
Read More
ICE Firearms Trainer Involved in Four Deadly Shootings
David S. Norman, owner of TruKinetics LLC, a company that trains Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Response Teams (SRTs), testified in a 2021 deposition that he was involved in at least four lethal shootings during his tenure as a Phoenix Police officer. Records reviewed by WIRED reveal Norman was involved in six on-duty shootings, resulting in four fatalities and two injuries, with police stating he fired on armed suspects and exchanged gunfire in multiple instances. TruKinetics has received government contracts to train hundreds of SRT agents annually, raising questions about the nature of the training provided by a contractor with Norman’s background. This comes as SRTs are increasingly deployed for civil immigration enforcement and crowd control, operations previously outside their scope.
Read More
Musk’s Lawsuit Against OpenAI Dismissed on Statute of Limitations
A federal jury found that Elon Musk waited too long to file his lawsuit against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and others. This decision rejected Musk’s claims that Altman unlawfully enriched himself from the organization Musk and Altman co-founded, and also dismissed claims against Microsoft for aiding and abetting. The jury’s verdict, which was unanimous, focused on statute of limitations grounds, preserving the current structure of OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence company. Musk’s legal team intends to appeal the decision, arguing it was based on technicalities rather than the merits of the case.
Read More
ICE Agent Charged in Shooting Amidst Calls for Justice in Unsolved Killings
An ICE officer, Christian J. Castro, faces felony assault and false reporting charges for allegedly shooting a Venezuelan man and then fabricating the circumstances. Video evidence contradicted initial Homeland Security claims that the officer was assaulted, leading to the dismissal of charges against the victim and his roommate. This case is part of a broader effort by the Hennepin County Attorney to prosecute federal immigration agents involved in January shootings. Another ICE agent, Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., has also been charged with felony assault for an incident involving pointing a handgun at another vehicle.
Read More
Active Shooter at San Diego Islamic Center Leaves 3 Dead, 2 Teen Shooters Dead
An active shooter incident has been reported at the Islamic Center of San Diego, with law enforcement confirming the tragic details of the event. Initial reports indicate a grim outcome, with a total of five individuals losing their lives. Of these, three are identified as victims, while the two perpetrators of the attack are also deceased. It appears that the security guard stationed at the entrance may have been among those killed, a particularly heartbreaking aspect of this incident. The swift actions of law enforcement were crucial in containing the situation, and thankfully, early reports from NBC News suggest that no staff members or children inside the center were injured, which is a small measure of relief amidst such profound sadness.… Continue reading
Iran Formalizes Strait of Hormuz Control and Toll Collection
Amid deadlocked peace talks and a stand-off over the vital Strait of Hormuz, Iran has established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) to manage operations in the critical waterway. This new body, announced via X, signals Iran’s intention to formalize its control over the strait, with reports indicating that ships are already receiving regulations from a PGSA email address. The move follows earlier statements from Iranian officials about a system to manage traffic, and reports of initial revenue from an imposed toll system, a development that the United States and China have stated is unacceptable for international waterways.
Read More
Trump’s Stock Trades Expose Corrupt Self-Service
Donald Trump’s image as an aspirational entrepreneur has resonated with his base, who believed he would improve their economic standing. However, soaring inflation and his administration’s dealings with companies he invests in are undermining this perception. As Trump’s own financial disclosures reveal questionable transactions, his personal wealth may transform from a political asset into a liability, potentially alienating supporters as midterm elections approach.
Read More
US Quits Canada-US Defense Board Amidst Alliance Strain
The Trump administration is withdrawing from the Permanent Joint Board on Defence, a long-standing advisory body for Canada-U.S. defense initiatives. This decision stems from claims that Canada has not met its defense spending commitments, particularly in relation to NATO’s target of 2% of GDP. U.S. Undersecretary of War Elbridge Colby cited a gap between rhetoric and reality regarding shared defense responsibilities. This move has been called a “needless provocation” that could impact crucial areas like NORAD modernization and future military procurement.
Read More
Netherlands Returns 1,000-Year-Old Chola Copper Plates to India
During an official visit to the Netherlands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates by Leiden University authorities. These historic royal charters, known as the Leiden Copper Plates, had been preserved at the University’s Asian Library for over a century and represent a significant achievement in cultural cooperation and heritage restitution between India and the Netherlands. The collection, comprising inscriptions in Sanskrit and Tamil, offers invaluable insights into the Chola Empire’s administration, economy, and its extensive maritime and diplomatic ties with Southeast Asia.
Read More
House Democrats Sue to Block $1.7 Billion Trump ‘Slush Fund’
Ninety-three House Democrats are actively working to block a $1.77 billion taxpayer-funded settlement between President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. This settlement, part of dropping a lawsuit over leaked tax returns, could potentially reward Trump supporters, including those convicted of felonies related to the January 6th Capitol insurrection. Democrats argue the agreement is a fraudulent self-enrichment scheme, allowing the president to act as both plaintiff and defendant in a manufactured case to create a slush fund for his allies. The lawmakers have joined an amicus brief in court to prevent these taxpayer dollars from being distributed without transparency or accountability.
Read More
Ukraine Strikes Force Russian Oil Well Shutdowns
Ukrainian long-range strikes have significantly impacted Russia’s oil industry, reducing its refining capacity by 10% in recent months. This has also forced Russian oil companies to shut down wells, a development considered particularly damaging given the nature of their production. President Zelenskyy asserts that these actions, coupled with international pressure, are pushing Russia toward bankruptcy and an eventual end to the conflict.
Read More