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Newsweek
5 days ago
- Newsweek
Royal Caribbean Crew Member Stabs Colleague, Jumps Overboard: Police
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Royal Caribbean cruise crew member died after allegedly stabbing a fellow employee multiple times and jumping overboard, according to police. Newsweek has contacted Royal Caribbean and Royal Bahamas Police Force for comment via email. Why It Matters Earlier media reports had said a crew member simply "fell" overboard and was recovered by the cruise ship, the world's largest. The incident raises fresh concerns about safety and security protocols on cruise vessels, particularly those with thousands of passengers and crew at sea. What To Know The Icon of the Seas was near San Salvador Island Thursday when, at approximately 7:30 p.m. local time, a 35-year-old South African man allegedly attacked a 28-year-old South African woman, stabbing her multiple times, according to Royal Bahamas Police. Both are believed to have been crew members. The man fled the scene by jumping overboard and was later pulled from the water unresponsive, said police. Medical personnel on the ship pronounced him dead. Fireworks explode as Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, sails out of PortMiami for its first public cruise, as seen from Miami Beach, Fla., Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Fireworks explode as Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, sails out of PortMiami for its first public cruise, as seen from Miami Beach, Fla., Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Rebecca Blackwell/AP The woman sustained several stab wounds to her upper body and was airlifted to a Miami hospital. Police said she was in a stable condition and her injuries are not thought to be life threatening. Royal Caribbean has not released the names of the crew members involved in the incident or offered any explanation for the motive behind the stabbing. However, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told NBC News the incident was "a personal dispute," but did not provide any further details. Authorities say the case remains under investigation, and an autopsy is pending. The Icon of the Seas—said to have a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers—had left PortMiami on July 19 for a weeklong voyage through the eastern Caribbean, with stops in St. Thomas and Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas. According to the tracking site Cruise Mapper, the ship is expected to return to Miami at 6 a.m. on July 26. The incident comes just weeks after a father leaped from a Disney cruise ship to rescue his 5-year-old daughter who had fallen overboard while the vessel was sailing between the Bahamas and Fort Lauderdale. Both survived. What People Are Saying Royal Caribbean said in a statement to CBS News: "Our crew immediately initiated a search and rescue operation, but unfortunately the crew member passed away. We extend our condolences to the crew member's family and loved ones. To respect their privacy, we have no additional details to share." What Happens Next An autopsy to determine the man's exact cause of death is pending, according to police.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
GAO finds Trump's Head Start funding freeze illegal, citing harm to low-income families
FILE - Children play during aftercare for the Head Start program at Easterseals South Florida, Jan. 29, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File) As President Donald Trump took the oath of office for a second term on January 20, 2025, a less visible but deeply consequential shift began to take place across the country. Funding for Head Start — the federal early education program that serves nearly 800,000 low-income children — was quietly delayed, triggering confusion, closures, and chaos. Now, the government's own watchdog says that delay was illegal. GAO: HHS violated federal law In a report released Wednesday, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) violated the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. This law prohibits the executive branch from withholding congressionally approved funds without formal justification and notification to Congress. "We conclude that HHS violated the ICA," the GAO stated, citing the agency's failure to distribute Head Start funds from January 20 until April 25. Though payments eventually resumed, the disruption had already caused damage to families, educators, and the infrastructure of early childhood care. HHS pushes back Despite the GAO's determination, HHS strongly disputed the findings. "HHS did not impound Head Start funds and disputes the conclusion of the GAO report," said Andrew Nixon, HHS Director of Communications. He added, "GAO should anticipate a forthcoming response from HHS to incorporate into an updated report." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like China Power: Washington's loss, Beijing's gain as Chinese students shun the US for SE Asia? CNA Read More Undo GAO officials noted that HHS failed to provide information they requested regarding the delays, further undermining the department's defense. Families left stranded The consequences were immediate and widespread. Parents dependent on Head Start programs were suddenly forced to find emergency childcare, often at personal cost. Some centers suspended services or warned of impending closures, while staff members faced layoffs and funding uncertainty. In May, Reuters reported that delays in grant approvals had left many of the nation's Head Start centers in limbo. The closure of five HHS regional offices — located in Boston, Chicago, New York, Seattle, and San Francisco — only deepened the operational paralysis. A broader strategy to shrink government The Head Start funding freeze did not happen in isolation. It was part of a sweeping effort by the Trump administration to slash federal spending and reduce the size of government. At the helm of this initiative was Elon Musk, who was appointed to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. According to funding trackers maintained by congressional Democrats, nearly $943 million in Head Start funds were frozen at one point this year. Across all agencies, approximately $425 billion in federal funding was on hold as of June 3. Congressional outrage mounts Lawmakers reacted sharply to the GAO's findings. Representative Rosa DeLauro, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, issued a blunt assessment. "It does not matter how long these funds were frozen. The chaos and uncertainty of illegally withholding these funds is costly and hurts the hundreds of thousands of families that depend on Head Start," she said. Legal and political fallout looms The GAO's ruling adds weight to a series of legal and political battles now forming over the administration's sweeping budget interventions. While HHS has pledged to respond, critics argue the damage has already been done. Beyond the legal infraction lies a deeper question about executive authority. Can a president override Congress on federal spending? And at what cost to the nation's most vulnerable? For the children whose preschool programs went dark and the parents forced into emergency care arrangements, those questions are not theoretical. They are daily realities shaped by decisions made in Washington — and now deemed illegal by the nation's top government watchdog. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Toronto Sun
14-07-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
U.S. imposes 17% duty on fresh Mexican tomatoes
Published Jul 14, 2025 • 1 minute read Mexican tomatoes are displayed for sale at a produce stand in Mercado Medellin, in Mexico City, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017. Photo by Rebecca Blackwell / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The U.S. government said Monday it is placing a 17% duty on most fresh Mexican tomatoes after negotiations ended without an agreement to avert the tariff. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Proponents said the import tax will help rebuild the shrinking U.S. tomato industry and ensure that produce eaten in the U.S. is also grown there. Mexico currently supplies around 70% of U.S. tomato market, up from 30% two decades ago, according to the Florida Tomato Exchange. But opponents, including U.S. companies that grow tomatoes in Mexico, said the tariff will make fresh tomatoes more expensive for U.S. buyers. The Commerce Department said in late April that it was withdrawing from a deal it first reached with Mexico in 2019 to settle allegations the country was exporting tomatoes to the U.S. at artificially low prices, a practice known as dumping. As part of the deal, Mexico had to sell its tomatoes at a minimum price and abide by other rules. Since then, the agreement has been subject to periodic reviews, but the two sides always reached an agreement that avoided duties. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In announcing its withdrawal from the Tomato Suspension Agreement, the Commerce Department said in late April that it had been 'flooded with comments' from U.S. tomato growers who wanted better protection from Mexican imports. But others, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Restaurant Association, had called on the Commerce Department to reach an agreement with Mexico. In a letter sent last week to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the Chamber of Commerce and 30 other business groups said U.S. companies employ 50,000 workers and generate $8.3 billion in economic benefits moving tomatoes from Mexico into communities across the country. 'We are concerned that withdrawing from the agreement — at a time when the business community is already navigating significant trade uncertainty — could lead to retaliatory actions by our trading partners against other commodities and crops that could create further hardship for U.S. businesses and consumers,' the letter said. RECOMMENDED VIDEO NFL NHL Golf Editorial Cartoons World
Newsweek
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Alligator Alcatraz Detainees Revealed in Full List
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New details have emerged on the detainees inside Florida's new immigrant detention center, nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz." The Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times obtained a list of more than 700 people who have been detained or appear to be scheduled to be sent to the state-run immigration detention facility. Why It Matters The remote facility is expected to cost Florida about $450 million annually to operate. It comes as President Donald Trump's administration looks to conduct what it describes as the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. Workers install a sign reading "Alligator Alcatraz" at the entrance to a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility on July 3, 2025, in Ochopee, Florida. Workers install a sign reading "Alligator Alcatraz" at the entrance to a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility on July 3, 2025, in Ochopee, Florida. Rebecca Blackwell/AP What To Know Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' administration has not released the names of immigrants being held in heavy-duty tents at an airstrip in the Everglades. People transferred to the temporary detention site are not listed in the government's online database that typically allows the public to track the location of immigrant detainees. The Miami Herald reported that attorneys report having trouble finding clients who have been sent there, often discovering their whereabouts only when detainees manage to call family members. The outlet said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Florida Division of Emergency Management did not dispute its accuracy. Democratic lawmakers who toured the site described "cage-like enclosures" under extreme heat, inadequate sanitation and reports of detainees crying out for help, calling the overall environment "vile." The projected cost is about $245 per bed per day, adding up to roughly $450 million in operating expenses for the first year. Florida officials say they plan to seek federal reimbursement from the DHS, which will use FEMA funds. The idea for "Alligator Alcatraz" originated with DeSantis' administration, which used emergency powers to authorize construction of the site. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier unveiled the move on Fox News. Legal experts told Newsweek that South Florida cannot handle a major increase in detention operations. Raul Gastesi, partner at Gastesi, Lopez, Mestre & Cobiella and a Florida-based attorney said: "South Florida doesn't have the infrastructure to support large-scale detention expansion. Our jails are already overcrowded, we lack sufficient waste management capacity and we face strict zoning limits and serious environmental risks, particularly given that our region's drinking water is tied to the Everglades. "Detaining people in the harsh climate of the Florida Everglades with extreme heat, relentless mosquitoes and inadequate living conditions is not something we should be proud of as Americans." What People Are Saying Raul Gastesi, partner at Gastesi, Lopez, Mestre & Cobiella and a Florida-based attorney, told Newsweek: "I believe the facility's location and name are cruel and demeaning. As a country, I believe in American exceptionalism. I fully support the need to control our borders and believe in a strict immigration policy. But this crisis was created by the previous administration, and now, these individuals are already here."
Toronto Sun
11-07-2025
- General
- Toronto Sun
Detainees describe worms in food, sewage near beds inside 'Alligator Alcatraz'
Published Jul 11, 2025 • 4 minute read Work progresses on a new migrant detention facility dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility in the Florida Everglades, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla. Photo by Rebecca Blackwell / AP MIAMI (AP) — Worms in the food. Toilets that don't flush, flooding floors with fecal waste. Days without a shower or prescription medicine. Mosquitoes and insects everywhere. Lights on all night. Air conditioners that suddenly shut off in the tropical heat. Detainees forced to use recorded phone lines to speak with their lawyers and loved ones. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Only days after President Donald Trump toured a new immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades that officials have dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz,' these are some of the conditions described by people held inside. Attorneys, advocates, detainees and families are speaking out about the makeshift migrant detention center Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration raced to build on an isolated airstrip surrounded by swampland. The center began accepting detainees on July 2. 'These are human beings who have inherent rights, and they have a right to dignity,' said immigration attorney Josephine Arroyo. 'And they're violating a lot of their rights by putting them there.' Government officials have adamantly disputed the conditions described by detainees, their attorneys and family members, but have provided few details, and have denied access to the media. A televised tour for Trump and DeSantis showed rows of chain-link cages, each containing dozens of bunkbeds, under large white tents. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The reporting on the conditions in the facility is completely false. The facility meets all required standards and is in good working order,' said Stephanie Hartman, a spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which built the center. A group of Democratic lawmakers sued the DeSantis administration for access. The administration is allowing a site visit by state legislators and members of Congress on Saturday, July 12. Descriptions of attorneys and families differ from the government's 'model' Families and attorneys who spoke with The Associated Press relayed detainees' accounts of a place they say is unsanitary and lacks adequate medical care, pushing some into a state of extreme distress. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Such conditions make other immigration detention centers where advocates and staff have warned of unsanitary confinements, medical neglect and a lack of food and water seem 'advanced,' said immigration attorney Atara Eig. Trump and his allies have praised this detention center's harshness and remoteness as befitting the 'worst of the worst' and as a national model for the deterrence needed to persuade immigrants to 'self-deport' from the United States. But among those locked inside the chain-link enclosures are people with no criminal records, and at least one teenage boy, attorneys told the AP. Concerns about medical care, lack of medicines Immigration attorney Katie Blankenship described a concerning lack of medical care at the facility, relaying an account from a 35-year-old Cuban client who told his wife that detainees go days without a shower. The toilets are in the same space as the bunkbeds and can't handle their needs, she said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The wife, a 28-year-old green card holder and the mother of the couple's 2-year-old daughter, who is a U.S. citizen, relayed his complaints to the AP. Fearing government retaliation against her and her detained husband, she asked not to be identified. 'They have no way to bathe, no way to wash their mouths, the toilet overflows and the floor is flooded with pee and poop,' the woman told the AP. 'They eat once a day and have two minutes to eat. The meals have worms,' she added. The woman said the detainees 'all went on a hunger strike' on Thursday night to protest the conditions. 'There are days when I don't know anything about him until the evening,' she said, describing waiting for his calls, interrupted every three minutes by an announcement that the conversation is being recorded. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The detainees' attorneys say their due process rights are among numerous constitutional protections being denied. Blankenship is among the lawyers who have been refused access. After travelling to the remote facility and waiting for hours to speak with her clients, including a 15-year-old Mexican boy with no criminal charges, she was turned away by a security guard who told her to wait for a phone call in 48 hours that would notify her when she could return. 'I said, well, what's the phone number that I can follow up with that? There is none,' Blankenship recalled. 'You have due process obligations, and this is a violation of it.' Arroyo's client, a 36-year-old Mexican man who came to the U.S. as a child, has been detained at the center since July 5 after being picked up for driving with a suspended license in Florida's Orange County. He's a beneficiary of the DACA program, created to protect young adults who were brought to the U.S. as children from deportation and to provide them with work authorization. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Blankenship's Cuban client paid a bond and was told he'd be freed on a criminal charge in Miami, only to be detained and transferred to the Everglades. Eig has been seeking the release of a client in his 50s with no criminal record and a stay of removal, meaning the government can't legally deport him while he appeals. But she hasn't been able to get a bond hearing. She's heard that an immigration court inside the Krome Detention Center in Miami 'may be hearing cases' from the Everglades facility, but as of Friday, they were still waiting. 'Jurisdiction remains an issue,' Eig said, adding 'the issue of who's in charge over there is very concerning.' Read More Editorial Cartoons World Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs
