Five fishermen—three Peruvians and two Colombians—were rescued on May 7th after 55 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean following an alternator failure that disabled their boat’s navigation and communication systems. The men survived by catching fish, drinking rainwater and seawater, and reportedly consuming water from the engine. Rescued by an Ecuadorian tuna boat near the Galapagos Islands, they are now in stable condition. Authorities are working to facilitate their return home.
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The Daily Princetonian reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s 2003 Princeton senior thesis contains eight instances of plagiarism, according to three expert reviewers. These instances included uncredited material, sham paraphrasing, and verbatim copying from sources such as a Washington Post article. While experts disagreed on the severity of the violations, some passages were deemed serious breaches of Princeton’s academic honesty policy, while others were considered minor. The thesis, a significant requirement for graduation, analyzed modern presidential rhetoric and its relationship to global threats.
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Measles cases in the U.S. have surged past 1,000, the second-highest total in 30 years, with Texas accounting for the majority of infections. Three unvaccinated individuals have died, highlighting the 96% unvaccinated rate among those affected. Despite this, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has downplayed the outbreak, promoting unproven treatments and questioning vaccine efficacy, while simultaneously implementing policies that could hinder vaccine access. The CDC continues to strongly recommend MMR vaccination as the primary preventative measure.
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President Trump is slated to receive a luxurious Boeing 747-8 jet, a gift from the Qatari royal family, potentially exceeding the value of any previous presidential gift. This “flying palace” will reportedly be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, bypassing standard protocols requiring Congressional approval and GSA purchase of foreign gifts exceeding a minimal value. The gift comes amidst Trump’s frustration with Boeing over delays in delivering new Air Force One jets under a multi-billion dollar contract. This transfer raises concerns about compliance with ethical and legal requirements governing gifts to federal officials.
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Following a Pahalgam terrorist attack, escalating India-Pakistan tensions prompted US Vice President JD Vance to contact Prime Minister Modi, urging de-escalation. Modi, however, while acknowledging Vance’s concerns, responded that any further Pakistani aggression would be met with a “devastating and strong” response. Subsequently, a ceasefire was announced after communication between both countries’ military and diplomatic officials, facilitated by the US. India confirmed a strong retaliatory strike following initial Pakistani attacks.
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The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for a coordinated offensive across Balochistan, including the seizure of Mangochar city and attacks at 39 locations. The operation involved highway blockades, police detentions (subsequently released), and targeting of military convoys. This significant escalation of the BLA’s campaign aims to disrupt Pakistani control and highlight the group’s ongoing fight against what it terms occupation and resource exploitation. A further statement detailing the operation and outlining future actions is expected from the BLA.
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Democratic members of Congress, exercising their legal oversight authority, visited a Newark ICE facility, resulting in a physical confrontation with DHS officers. The incident escalated when Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested after attempting to join the lawmakers. DHS officials accused the congresspeople of illegally entering the facility and assaulting officers, threatening further arrests based on body camera footage. Conversely, the congresspeople denied wrongdoing, citing the appropriations act granting them access. The mayor, not covered by this act, was also detained.
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High-level talks between U.S. and Chinese officials in Geneva yielded progress toward a negotiated reset of trade relations, though specifics remain undisclosed. The discussions follow recent tariff increases by both nations that severely impacted global markets. While President Trump hinted at lowering U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, even reduced tariffs would remain substantial. China, while expressing concern over past U.S. actions, acknowledged the talks as a positive step toward de-escalation.
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Cornell University’s James Antaki had a $6.7 million Department of Defense grant for his life-saving PediaFlow device, designed to improve blood flow in infants with heart defects, revoked without explanation. This follows three decades of research and prior successful grant applications, jeopardizing the project’s completion and potentially impacting hundreds of lives. The sudden cancellation is attributed to a broader trend of funding cuts under the current administration, impacting numerous research projects across various fields. Without restored funding, Antaki’s team faces layoffs and project termination, hindering progress towards a crucial medical device for infants with life-threatening heart conditions.
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Billy Evans, partner of Elizabeth Holmes, has launched Haemanthus, an AI-powered biotech startup focusing on affordable medical testing. Utilizing Raman spectroscopy, the company aims to create commercially available diagnostic tools using various biological samples, including blood, sweat, urine, and saliva. Despite Holmes’s 11-year prison sentence for Theranos fraud, she reportedly advises Evans, though she is not formally involved in the company’s operations. Haemanthus hopes to significantly reduce the cost and accessibility barriers of this technology, currently utilized primarily in research settings.
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John Q. Hosedrinker