Author: Amanda Martinez

This month, the Trump administration has launched a sweeping workforce reduction, cutting over 11,000 jobs at the IRS and the Pentagon. On Thursday, officials laid off 6,000 IRS employees during tax season, raising concerns about service delays. The Pentagon will eliminate 5,400 civilian positions next week and implement a hiring freeze to reduce its workforce by 5 to 8%. The administration tasked Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with executing the layoffs. CBS News obtained an internal IRS email confirming that terminated probationary employees were not deemed critical for tax filing operations. Most affected employees joined the agency less…

The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District plans to eliminate 167 jobs in response to a $16 million budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2026. Officials unveiled the proposal Tuesday night, outlining reductions in education staff, support personnel, and counselors. The district previously avoided mass layoffs by not replacing departing teachers, but that strategy no longer suffices, Fairbanks Education Association President Danette Peterson said. “In the past, we’ve been able to avoid those big pink slips by simply not replacing those educators who have left our district for a variety of reasons,” Peterson explained. The district has already closed three schools…

Lebanon is set to hold a grand funeral for former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah five months after he died in an Israeli strike. The funeral, scheduled for 1 pm on Sunday at Beirut’s Camille Chamoun Sports Stadium, will bring the country to a standstill. Tens of thousands of Hezbollah’s supporters will travel from strongholds across Lebanon and abroad to attend the funeral procession. Lebanese authorities have implemented strict security measures urging security forces to manage the expected large crowds.  Nasrallah, revered by Hezbollah followers, died on September 27 when an Israeli airstrike targeted a bunker in Beirut’s southern suburbs. He…

After a forensic test, Israel condemned Hamas’s ceasefire violation. Israel claims that the body returned was not of Shiri Bibas. On Thursday, Israeli officials identified three bodies as those of Bibas’s sons, Ariel and Kfir, and veteran peace activist Oded Lifshitz.  However, forensic teams determined that the fourth body did not belong to Bibas or any known hostage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced Hamas for what he called a cruel and deceptive act. Hamas’s ceasefire violation has further strained relations as Israel demands the return of Bibas. Israeli intelligence reports stated that Hamas allegedly murdered Ariel 5 and Kfir two…

Hamas released Israeli hostage bodies on Thursday, marking the first release of deceased captives since October 7, 2023. The handover included Shiri Bibas, 32, and her two sons Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months, who were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz.  The fourth body belonged to Oded Lifshitz 83, who was abducted with his wife Yocheved Lifshitz, later freed in October 2023. Before the transfer Hamas displayed four black caskets on stage in Khan Younis, setting them against a propaganda backdrop. The Red Cross first received the remains before handing them to the Israeli military, which transported them into Israel.…

US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Boeing’s delay in delivering two new Air Force One planes. He criticized the manufacturer for running behind schedule. The contract signed during his first term was initially planned for delivery in 2024, but Boeing has pushed it to 2027 or 2028. Trump stated that Boeing took too long to complete the planes and suggested looking for alternatives. While rejecting the idea of switching to Airbus, he mentioned the possibility of purchasing a used aircraft and converting it for residential use. His remarks come after he recently toured a 13-year-old Boeing 747-800 once owned…

Australian police have charged a 31-year-old woman with assault after she allegedly attacked two Muslim women at a Melbourne shopping center. Authorities say the suspect targeted them for wearing head coverings, sparking outrage and calls for more decisive action against islamophobia. The Islamophobic attack occurred on February 13 at Epping Shopping Center, where the suspect reportedly grabbed and choked a 30-year-old pregnant woman using her hijab. Ten minutes later, she allegedly pushed and slapped another 26-year-old woman in a separate assault.  Police arrested the suspect and confirmed she will face court on Wednesday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strongly condemned…

After rescue attempts failed, 90 fake killer whales who were left stranded on a secluded beach in Tasmania are being put down by Australian authorities. The majority of the 157 whales in the pod died shortly after they beached close to Arthur River. Experts concluded that the remaining whales could not survive due to severe stress and unfavorable circumstances. Wildlife veterinarians announced the decision on Wednesday, calling it brutal and confronting. They explained that stranded whales suffer significantly over time, and euthanasia was the only humane option. The process, which involves shooting the animals, will continue into Thursday. Experts struggled…

South Korea has banned DeepSeek from app stores after discovering possible data transfers between the Chinese AI startup and ByteDance. The country’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) confirmed DeepSeek but has not determined what data was shared or to what extent. This ban over privacy concerns adds to growing global worries about privacy risks associated with Chinese AI applications. On Saturday, authorities removed DeepSeek from Apple and Google’s app stores due to insufficient transparency in its privacy policies.  Before the ban, South Koreans had downloaded the app over a million times, making it one of the country’s most popular AI…

A Taliban delegation arrived on Sunday in Japan for a rare diplomatic visit, marking its first official trip to the country. The group that governs Afghanistan comprises officials from foreign affairs, education, economy, and health ministries.  They plan to stay for a week and meet with Japanese government representatives. Officials in Tokyo confirmed that the delegation aims to secure humanitarian aid and explore potential diplomatic relations with Japan. Latif Nazari, a deputy minister in Afghanistan’s economy ministry, described the visit as part of the Taliban’s international engagement efforts. He stated that the group seeks to establish dignified interactions with the…

Deadly storms pounded the southeastern United States over the weekend, causing Kentucky flash flood that killed at least nine people. Heavy rains submerged roads, destroyed homes and left hundreds stranded in vehicles. Governor Andy Beshear confirmed eight deaths in Kentucky and warned that the number could rise. In Georgia, a 9th fatality occurred when a tree crashed into a man’s home while he slept. Emergency crews rushed to rescue trapped residents as floodwaters surged. Authorities advised people to stay indoors and avoid travel as conditions remain hazardous. The National Weather Service reported that some Kentucky areas received up to six…

South Korea has blocked new downloads of China´s DeepSeek AI Chatbot due to violations of personal data protection laws. The Personal Information Protection Commission announced the DeepSeek ban in South Korea on Saturday evening, forcing Apple and Google to remove the app from their stores. Officials stated that DeepSeek could return once the company fixes its compliance issues. After making global headlines, DeepSeek quickly gained popularity in South Korea, drawing over a million weekly users. The chatbot´s rapid rise, however, raised privacy and security concerns among regulators worldwide. Several South Korean government agencies reacted by prohibiting employees from installing DeepSeek…