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The Trump administration deported hundreds of immigrants to El Salvador, even as a federal judge issued an order temporarily blocking their removal under a rarely invoked wartime law, officials confirmed Sunday. The deportation flights were already in the air when the ruling was issued. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg issued an order on Saturday to pause the deportations. However, lawyers informed him that two planes carrying immigrants had already departed—one bound for El Salvador and another for Honduras. Though Boasberg verbally instructed authorities to turn the flights around, the directive was not included in his written order, and the deportations proceeded. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed allegations that the administration had ignored the court order. "The administration did not ‘refuse to comply’ with the ruling," she stated, arguing that the decision had no legal basis and that those deported were “terrorist TdA aliens” who had already left U.S. soil before the order took effect. The acronym TdA refers to the Tren de Aragua gang, which was the focus of Trump’s presidential proclamation issued on Saturday. In a court filing on Sunday, the Department of Justice, which is appealing the ruling, assured that it would not use Trump’s proclamation for additional deportations unless the court’s decision was overturned. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump avoided directly addressing whether his administration had defied the judge’s order. "I don’t know. You’d have to ask the lawyers," he said. However, he defended the removals, calling the deported individuals "bad people." He also justified invoking presidential wartime powers, claiming the country faced an "invasion" of criminal migrants. Trump allies welcomed the move. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who agreed to house 300 deportees for a year at a cost of $6 million in his country’s prisons, mockingly commented on social media: "Oopsie… Too late." His post was shared by White House Communications Director Steven Cheung. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had previously negotiated an agreement with Bukele, stated that over 250 suspected Tren de Aragua members were transferred to El Salvador, where they would be detained in high-security prisons. He noted that this arrangement would also reduce U.S. taxpayer expenses. Trump administration creates registry for immigrants who are in the US illegally Legal experts, however, questioned the administration’s actions. Steve Vladeck, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center, argued that while Boasberg’s verbal order to halt the flights was not formally included in his written ruling, the administration had violated the "spirit" of the decision. He warned that such actions could prompt future judges to issue more explicit directives. The deportations followed Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law historically used only during wartime. This legislation, previously enforced during the War of 1812 and World Wars I and II, grants the president extraordinary powers to detain or expel foreign nationals. The law was last used to justify the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Venezuela’s government condemned Trump’s use of the act, likening it to some of history’s darkest moments, including slavery and Nazi concentration camps. Tren de Aragua, a violent gang originating from a notorious Venezuelan prison, emerged as a key focus of Trump’s rhetoric during his campaign. However, critics argue that he exaggerated their influence to depict immigrant communities as overrun by criminals. Despite the administration’s claims, it has not provided evidence that those deported were members of Tren de Aragua or had committed crimes in the U.S. Additionally, two leaders of El Salvador’s MS-13 gang were among those deported. Footage released by El Salvador’s government on Sunday showed shackled men disembarking from planes under heavy security. They were later transported in a military-escorted convoy to the CECOT prison, a high-security facility central to Bukele’s crackdown on crime. In the video, the men were seen kneeling as their heads were shaved before being given prison uniforms. Immigration lawyers argue that Trump’s proclamation could allow the deportation of any Venezuelan immigrant under the mere suspicion of gang affiliation, without due process. Adam Isacson, from the Washington Office on Latin America, warned that any Venezuelan in the U.S. could now face removal based on unproven claims. The legal battle began when five Venezuelan detainees in Texas challenged their deportations, fearing wrongful association with Tren de Aragua. Boasberg initially blocked their removal but later expanded the ruling to include all detainees who might be targeted under the act. He emphasized that the law had never been applied outside of a formal congressional war declaration and questioned whether Trump had overstepped his authority. 85 Bangladeshis among 598 immigrants detained in Myanmar The judge’s temporary restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days, keeping the affected immigrants in federal custody while the case is reviewed. A hearing is scheduled for Friday to further examine the legality of Trump’s order. Boasberg justified his decision by asserting that those at risk of unconstitutional deportation deserved the opportunity to challenge their removal in court. "Once they’re out of the country," he said, "there’s little I could do." Source: With input from agency 

At least 39 people have died after severe weather, including tornadoes, dust storms, and wildfires, ravaged several U.S. states over the weekend. According to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, more than 400 homes were damaged by wildfires that swept across the state on Friday. In Stillwater, at least 74 homes were destroyed by the flames. Mayor Will Joyce confirmed these details on Sunday night via Facebook. The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that four fatalities were linked to the fires or strong winds. 32 dead in massive US storm Though tornado watches had mostly expired by Sunday, the National Weather Service warned that hazardous winds might still affect the Carolinas, eastern Georgia, and northern Florida. In Tylertown, Mississippi, Hailey Hart and her fiancé Steve Romero sought shelter in their 1994 Toyota Celica as a tornado destroyed their home. The car was flipped onto its side during the storm, and when it landed on its wheels again, they could hear nearby cries for help. Hart's grandparents, who had taken refuge in their bathroom, also narrowly escaped death when trees collapsed their roof. They only sustained minor injuries. The family, friends, and volunteers spent Sunday salvaging what they could from the wreckage. Forecasters had issued a rare "high risk" warning for the dynamic storm system that began on Friday. Although unusual, severe weather events like this can occur in March. President Donald Trump expressed support for the affected communities, offering federal assistance. In Alabama, three people, including an 82-year-old woman, were killed by tornadoes. In Troy, the local recreation center, which had served as a shelter, was damaged by overnight storms, although no one was injured. Monster storm across US kills at least five In Missouri, scattered twisters killed at least 12 people. Dakota Henderson described the devastating scene as rescue teams discovered five bodies near his aunt's house. One home in Butler County was described as a "debris field" by the local coroner. Mississippi's Governor Tate Reeves confirmed that six people died and more than 200 were displaced by tornadoes. Some areas in the northern part of the state were flooded, leaving many stranded. In Covington County, Seminary resident Traci Ladner witnessed a tornado demolish homes and trees as she drove through the area. Three people were also reported dead in Arkansas. In Texas and Oklahoma, wildfires and dust storms exacerbated the death toll. More than 130 fires were reported across Oklahoma. With winds reaching 70 mph, fire crews struggled to contain the flames. Wildfires and extreme weather conditions claimed two more lives in Oklahoma. High winds led to deadly dust storms, causing a pileup on a Kansas highway that resulted in eight fatalities. Additionally, three people were killed in a dust storm in Amarillo, Texas.

The Trump administration has transferred hundreds of immigrants to El Salvador even as a federal judge issued an order temporarily barring the deportations under an 18th century wartime declaration targeting Venezuelan gang members, officials said Sunday. Flights were in the air at the time of the ruling. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg issued an order Saturday blocking the deportations but lawyers told him there were already two planes with immigrants in the air — one headed for El Salvador, the other for Honduras. Boasberg verbally ordered the planes be turned around, but they apparently were not and he did not include the directive in his written order. “Oopsie…Too late,” Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, a Trump ally who agreed to house about 300 immigrants for a year at a cost of $6 million in his country’s prisons, wrote on the social media site X above an article about Boasberg’s ruling. That post was recirculated by White House communications director Steven Cheung. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who negotiated an earlier deal with Bukele to house immigrants, posted on the site: “We sent over 250 alien enemy members of Tren de Aragua which El Salvador has agreed to hold in their very good jails at a fair price that will also save our taxpayer dollars.” Steve Vladeck, a professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, said that Boasberg's verbal directive to turn around the planes was not technically part of his final order but that the Trump administration clearly violated the “spirit” of it. “This just incentivizes future courts to be hyper specific in their orders and not give the government any wiggle room,” Vladeck said. The immigrants were deported after Trump’s declaration of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has been used only three times in U.S. history. The law, invoked during World Wars I and II and the War of 1812, requires a president to declare the United States is at war, giving him extraordinary powers to detain or remove foreigners who otherwise would have protections under immigration or criminal laws. It was last used to justify the detention of Japanese-American civilians during World War II. The ACLU, which filed the lawsuit that led to Boasberg's temporary restraining order on deportations, said it was asking the government whether the removals to El Salvador were in defiance of the court. "This morning, we asked the government to assure the Court that its order was not violated and are waiting to hear, as well as trying to do our own investigation,” ACLU’s lead lawyer, Lee Gelernt, said in a statement Sunday. A Justice Department spokesperson on Sunday referred back to an earlier statement from Attorney General Pam Bondi blasting Boasberg’s ruling and didn’t immediately answer questions about whether the administration ignored the court’s order. Venezuela’s government in a statement Sunday rejected the use of Trump’s declaration of the law, characterizing it as evocative of “the darkest episodes in human history, from slavery to the horror of the Nazi concentration camps.” Trump signs order to slash staff at VoA, other US-funded media outlets Tren de Aragua originated in an infamously lawless prison in the central state of Aragua and accompanied an exodus of millions of Venezuelans, the overwhelming majority of whom were seeking better living conditions after their nation’s economy came undone last decade. Trump seized on the gang during his campaign to paint misleading pictures of communities that he contended were “taken over” by what were actually a handful of lawbreakers. The Trump administration has not identified the immigrants deported, provided any evidence they are in fact members of Tren de Aragua or that they committed any crimes in the U.S,. It did also send two top members of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang to El Salvador who had been arrested in the United States. Video released by El Salvador’s government Sunday showed men exiting airplanes into an airport tarmac lined by officers in riot gear. The men, who had with their hands and ankles shackled, struggled to walk as officers pushed their heads down to have them bend down at the waist. The video also showed the men being transported to prison in a large convoy of buses guarded by police and military vehicles and at least one helicopter. The men were shown kneeling on the ground as their heads were shaved before they changed into the prison’s all-white uniform – knee-length shorts, T-shirt, socks and rubber clogs – and placed in cells. The immigrants were taken to the notorious CECOT facility, the centerpiece of Bukele's push to pacify his once violence-wracked country through tough police measures and limits on basic rights The Trump administration said the president actually signed the proclamation contending Tren de Aragua was invading the United States Friday night but didn't announce it until Saturday afternoon. Immigration lawyers said that, late Friday, they noticed Venezuelans who otherwise couldn't be deported under immigration law being moved to Texas for deportation flights. They began to file lawsuits to halt the transfers. “Basically any Venezuelan citizen in the US may be removed on pretext of belonging to Tren de Aragua, with no chance at defense,” Adam Isacson of the Washington Office for Latin America, a human rights group, warned on X. The litigation that led to the hold on deportations was filed on behalf of five Venezuelans held in Texas who lawyers said were concerned they'd be falsely accused of being members of the gang. Once the act is invoked, they warned, Trump could simply declare anyone a Tren de Aragua member and remove them from the country. Boasberg barred those Venezuelans' deportations Saturday morning when the suit was filed, but only broadened it to all people in federal custody who could be targeted by the act after his afternoon hearing. He noted that the law has never before been used outside of a congressionally-declared war and that plaintiffs may successfully argue Trump exceeded his legal authority in invoking it. The bar on deportations stands for up to 14 days and the immigrants will remain in federal custody during that time. Boasberg has scheduled a hearing Friday to hear additional arguments in the case. He said he had to act because the immigrants whose deportations may actually violate the constitution deserved a chance to have their pleas heard in court. “Once they’re out of the country," Boasberg said, "there’s little I could do."

The Trump administration initiated significant reductions at Voice of America (VOA) and other government-funded pro-democracy media on Saturday, with the agency’s director confirming that all VOA employees have been placed on leave. On Friday night, shortly after Congress approved its latest funding bill, President Donald Trump instructed his administration to scale back operations of multiple agencies to the minimum required by law. Among them was the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Marti, the Spanish-language broadcaster targeting Cuba. Early Saturday, Kari Lake, a former Arizona gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidate recently appointed by Trump as a senior adviser to the agency, posted on X, urging employees to check their emails. This coincided with official notices informing VOA staff of their placement on paid administrative leave. “For the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” said Michael Abramowitz, VOA’s director, in a statement. He noted that nearly all of the 1,300 employees were affected. “VOA promotes freedom and democracy around the world by telling America’s story and by providing objective and balanced news and information, especially for those living under tyranny,” Abramowitz added. One journalist, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly, commented, “We expected something like this to happen, and it just happened to be today.” Press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders denounced the move, stating it “condemns this decision as a departure from the U.S.’s historic role as a defender of free information and calls on the U.S. government to restore VOA and urges Congress and the international community to take action against this unprecedented move.” The U.S. Agency for Global Media also sent termination notices for grants funding Radio Free Asia and other affiliated programs. These networks provide U.S. domestic news to international audiences, often in local languages. Outlets like Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Marti focus on countries with authoritarian governments, including China, North Korea, and Russia. “The cancellation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s grant agreement would be a massive gift to America’s enemies,” said Stephen Capus, the network’s President and CEO, in a statement. Tens of thousands rally in Rome in support of Europe amid defense spending debate Collectively, these networks reach an estimated 427 million people worldwide. Established during the Cold War, they have long played a role in promoting U.S. influence and countering authoritarianism, alongside agencies like USAID, which Trump has also targeted for reductions. The cuts mark a major shift away from a post-Cold War tradition that has historically received bipartisan support. VOA’s leadership in the past has included figures like Dick Carlson, father of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. Thomas Kent, a former president and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, said Trump’s broader plans for these agencies remain unclear but warned of the consequences. “Without the international broadcasting, the image of the United States and the Trump administration will be in the hands of others, including the administration’s opponents, (and) countries and people who consider the United States an enemy,” said Kent, who now works as an international media ethics consultant. Meanwhile, Lake posted a video on X discussing cost-cutting efforts without addressing VOA’s employees or mission. Filmed inside a VOA-leased building, she described the facility as a financial burden and expressed her intention to break the agency’s 15-year lease. “We’re doing everything we can to cancel contracts that can be cancelled, save more, downsize and make sure there’s no misuse of your dollars,” she said. The official notice to employees placed them on administrative leave while assuring continued salary and benefits “until otherwise notified.” It also directed them to refrain from using agency facilities and to return government-issued equipment, such as phones and computers. The Trump administration has already taken steps to exert control over VOA, including terminating contracts that allowed it to use content from independent news sources like The Associated Press. Additionally, it has barred AP from participating in presidential press pools and taken measures to regulate which media outlets are included in these pools. Trump’s directive also mandates cuts at several lesser-known federal institutions, including the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.

At least 32 people have died in a massive storm across the US following newly reported fatalities in Kansas and Mississippi. Violent tornadoes tore through parts of the country, demolishing schools and overturning semitractor-trailers in multiple states. The storm, which has claimed at least 32 lives, was expected to bring more severe weather late Saturday. Monster storm across US kills at least five The death toll rose after the Kansas Highway Patrol confirmed that eight people died in a highway pileup caused by a dust storm in Sherman County on Friday, involving at least 50 vehicles. In Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves announced six deaths across three counties, with three additional people missing. He reported 29 injuries in the state in a nighttime post on X. Missouri suffered the highest number of fatalities, with at least 12 deaths from scattered tornadoes overnight. Among the victims was a man whose home was destroyed by a tornado. “It was unrecognisable as a home. Just a debris field,” said Butler County Coroner Jim Akers, describing the scene faced by rescuers. “The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls.” Dakota Henderson recounted how he and others rescued people trapped in their homes on Friday night in Wayne County, Missouri, where they discovered five bodies scattered among the wreckage of his aunt’s house. “It was a very rough deal last night,” he said on Saturday, standing amid splintered homes and uprooted trees. “It’s really disturbing what happened to the people—the casualties last night.” Henderson and others pulled his aunt from a bedroom, the only part of her house left standing, through a window. They also carried out a man with a broken arm and leg. In Arkansas, officials reported three deaths in Independence County and 29 injuries across eight counties. “We have teams out surveying the damage from last night’s tornadoes and first responders on the ground to assist,” Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on X. She and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared states of emergency, with Kemp issuing the declaration in anticipation of severe weather expected later Saturday. Meanwhile, three people were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, Texas Panhandle, on Friday. Extreme Weather Affects 100 Million People The storm system, which stretched across the country, triggered deadly dust storms and fuelled more than 100 wildfires. More than 100 million people were expected to be affected by extreme weather conditions, with wind gusts reaching 80 mph (130 kph) from the Canadian border to Texas. Blizzard conditions were forecast in the colder northern regions, while warmer and drier areas to the south faced wildfire risks. The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of western Minnesota and eastern South Dakota early Saturday, predicting snow accumulations between 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 cm), with up to a foot (30 cm) possible. Winds gusting up to 60 mph (97 kph) were expected to create whiteout conditions. Evacuations were ordered in some Oklahoma communities as more than 130 fires were reported statewide, damaging or destroying nearly 300 homes. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said on Saturday that approximately 266 square miles (689 square kilometers) had burned. The high winds were powerful enough to overturn several tractor-trailers, according to the State Patrol. Experts noted that such extreme weather conditions are not uncommon in March. Tornadoes Continue Amid Storm Outbreak The Storm Prediction Center warned that fast-moving storms could produce tornadoes and hail the size of baseballs on Saturday. However, the most significant threat was from hurricane-force winds, with gusts potentially reaching 100 mph (160 kph). Tornadoes continued to strike on Saturday, with the highest-risk areas stretching from eastern Louisiana and Mississippi to Alabama, western Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle. Bailey Dillon, 24, and her fiancé, Caleb Barnes, watched a massive tornado from their porch in Tylertown, Mississippi, about half a mile (0.8 km) away, as it hit an area near Paradise Ranch RV Park. After the storm passed, they drove to assess the damage and filmed a video showing snapped trees, destroyed buildings, and overturned vehicles. “The amount of damage was catastrophic,” Dillon said. “A large number of cabins, RVs, and campers were just flipped over—everything was destroyed.” Paradise Ranch later reported on Facebook that all staff and guests were safe and accounted for. However, Dillon noted that destruction extended beyond the park. “Homes and everything around it were destroyed,” she said. “Schools and buildings are just completely gone.” Some of the extreme weather footage has gone viral. Tad Peters and his father, Richard Peters, were refuelling their pickup truck in Rolla, Missouri, on Friday night when tornado sirens sounded. They saw other drivers leaving the interstate to seek shelter. “Whoa, is this coming? Oh, it’s here. It’s here,” Tad Peters is heard saying in a video. “Look at all that debris. Ohhh. My God, we are in a torn ...” His father then rolled up the truck window. The two, who were on their way to a weightlifting competition in Indiana, decided to turn back to their home in Norman, Oklahoma—six hours away—where they encountered wildfires. Wildfires elsewhere in the Southern Plains threatened to spread rapidly due to warm, dry conditions and strong winds in Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico. Powerful March storm sparks wildfires, causes fatalities, raises Tornado concerns In Roberts County, Texas, northeast of Amarillo, a wildfire rapidly expanded from under a square mile (about 2 square km) to an estimated 32.8 square miles (85 square km), the Texas A&M University Forest Service reported on X. Crews managed to halt its advance by Friday evening. About 60 miles (90 km) south, another fire grew to roughly 3.9 square miles (10 square km) before being contained in the afternoon. Strong winds also caused power outages for more than 200,000 homes and businesses across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, according to poweroutage.us.

The Trump administration is reportedly considering imposing a new travel ban that could affect citizens from up to 43 countries, expanding beyond the restrictions from his first term, according to sources familiar with the matter. A draft list prepared by diplomatic and security officials outlines a “red” list of 11 countries whose citizens would be completely banned from entering the United States. These countries are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, according to officials.  However, these sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, warned that this list was compiled weeks ago by the State Department and could change by the time it reaches the White House, reports The New York Times. Tensions between Iran and US rise as Trump sends letter to supreme leader Embassy officials, regional bureaus at the State Department, and security specialists from other agencies and intelligence services have been reviewing the draft. They are providing feedback on whether the descriptions of deficiencies in the listed countries are accurate or if there are any policy considerations that might justify reconsidering certain countries’ inclusion, it said. Additionally, the draft proposal includes an “orange” list of 10 countries where travel would be restricted but not fully prohibited. Affluent business travelers might still be allowed entry, but those on immigrant or tourist visas would face restrictions. Citizens from these countries would also need to attend mandatory in-person visa interviews. This list includes Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan. Upon taking office on January 20, Trump signed an executive order instructing the State Department to identify countries with insufficient vetting and screening information, potentially leading to partial or full suspension of their nationals’ entry into the United States. The State Department had 60 days to present a report, which is expected next week, with assistance from the Justice and Homeland Security Departments, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the report said. While several agencies declined to comment, the State Department has previously affirmed its commitment to protecting the nation and its citizens by upholding high standards of national security and public safety through the visa process, although it declined to discuss internal deliberations in detail. Trump clarifies his 24-hour Russia-Ukraine war promise as 'Sarcastic' Reports earlier this month indicated that Afghanistan, which fell to the Taliban after the U.S. withdrew in 2021, was likely to be added to the new travel ban list, although the inclusion of other countries remained unclear. It remains uncertain whether people with existing visas would be exempt from the ban, or if their visas would be revoked. There is also ambiguity about whether green card holders, who have already been approved for permanent residency, would be exempt, added the report. The Trump administration recently canceled the green card of Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born former Columbia University graduate student, due to his involvement in campus protests against Israel’s Gaza actions, citing antisemitic views and sparking a legal challenge. Some of the countries on the draft red and orange lists were included in Trump’s previous travel bans, but others are new. Many of them are Muslim-majority or predominantly nonwhite, poorer, and have governments considered corrupt or weak, the report also said. However, the reasons for some countries’ inclusion are unclear. For example, Bhutan, a small Buddhist and Hindu nation between China and India, is proposed for an outright ban, though neither China nor India are listed. The proposal to restrict visitors from Russia is also notable, as Trump had previously aimed to shift U.S. foreign policy towards a more Russia-friendly stance. Including Venezuela could complicate improving relations, which have aided Trump’s efforts to deport undocumented migrants. The draft also includes a “yellow” list of 22 countries, which would be given 60 days to address deficiencies, with the possibility of being moved to one of the other lists if they fail to comply. This list includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe. During Trump’s first term, courts blocked the enforcement of the initial versions of the travel ban, but the Supreme Court ultimately allowed a revised version, banning citizens from eight countries, six of which were predominantly Muslim. Upon becoming president in January 2021, Joe Biden revoked Trump’s travel bans, calling them a “stain on our national conscience” and inconsistent with the U.S.’s tradition of welcoming people of all faiths. Trump’s executive order from January indicated that the bans would be revived to protect American citizens “from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.”

The threat of tornadoes in parts of the U.S. proved deadly as whipping winds moved east into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Saturday, with at least two people killed in south-central Missouri and widespread damage there and elsewhere. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that two adults were killed in the Bakersfield area in Ozark County and multiple people were injured. The deaths come as a massive storm system moving across the country unleashed winds that damaged buildings, whipped up deadly dust storms and fanned more than 100 wildfires. Extreme weather is forecast to affect an area home to more than 100 million people. Winds gusting up to 80 mph (130 kph) were predicted from the Canadian border to Texas, threatening blizzard conditions in colder northern areas and wildfire risk in warmer, drier areas to the south. The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings early Saturday morning for areas in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana and Texas. Three people were killed Friday in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo County in the Texas Panhandle, according to Sgt. Cindy Barkley of the state’s department of public safety. One pileup involved an estimated 38 cars. “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” Barkley said, calling the near-zero visibility a nightmare. “We couldn’t tell that they were all together until the dust kind of settled.” Evacuations were ordered in some Oklahoma communities as more than 130 fires were reported across the state. The State Patrol said winds were so strong that they toppled several tractor-trailers. “This is terrible out here,” said Charles Daniel, a truck driver hauling a 48-foot (14.6-meter) trailer along Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma. “There’s a lot of sand and dirt in the air. I’m not pushing it over 55 mph. I’m scared it will blow over if I do.” Forecasters said the severe storm threat would continue into the weekend with a high chance of tornadoes and damaging winds Saturday in Mississippi and Alabama. Heavy rain could bring flash flooding to some parts of the East Coast on Sunday. Experts say it's not unusual to see such weather extremes in March. “What’s unique about this one is its large size and intensity,” said Bill Bunting of the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. “And so what that is doing is producing really substantial impacts over a very large area.” Tornadoes hit amid storm outbreak The weather service said at least five tornadoes were reported in Missouri on Friday, including one in the Saint Louis area. Several buildings were damaged. The Storm Prediction Center said fast-moving storms could spawn twisters and hail as large as baseballs, but the greatest threat would come from straight-line winds near or exceeding hurricane force, with gusts of 100 mph (160 kph) possible. “Potentially violent” tornadoes were expected Saturday in parts of the central Gulf Coast and Deep South into the Tennessee Valley, according to the National Weather Service. The Storm Prediction Center said parts of Mississippi including Jackson and Hattiesburg and areas of Alabama including Birmingham and Tuscaloosa would be at a high risk. Severe storms and tornadoes were also possible across eastern Louisiana, western Georgia, central Tennessee and the western Florida Panhandle. Wildfires break out amid dry, gusty conditions Wildfires in the Southern Plains threatened to spread rapidly amid warm, dry weather and strong winds, and evacuations were ordered Friday for some communities in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and New Mexico. A blaze in Roberts County, Texas, northeast of Amarillo, quickly blew up from less than a square mile (about 2 square kilometers) to an estimated 32.8 square miles (85 square kilometers), the Texas A&M University Forest Service said on X. Crews stopped its advance by Friday evening. About 60 miles (90 kilometers) to the south, another fire grew to about 3.9 square miles (10 square kilometers) before its advance was halted in the afternoon. High winds also knocked out power to more than 300,000 homes and businesses in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, according the website poweroutage.us. Blizzard warnings in Northern Plains The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of far western Minnesota and far eastern South Dakota starting early Saturday. Snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 centimeters) were expected, with up to a foot (30 centimeters) possible. Winds gusting to 60 mph (97 kph) were expected to cause whiteout conditions.  

President Donald Trump welcomed Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin on Wednesday for the annual St. Patrick's Day celebration at the White House, where he added Ireland to the list of countries he says are taking advantage of the United States. Martin countered by noting Ireland's contributions to the U.S. It was Trump's first Oval Office meeting with a foreign leader since his recent sit-down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which morphed into a shouting match as they jousted over ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The session ended with Zelenskyy being asked to leave the White House. Martin, who offered only gentle pushback to some of Trump's comments, returned to the White House in the evening and presented Trump with a bowl of shamrocks at an early St. Patrick's Day celebration. The duo also attended an annual luncheon at the Capitol. The president's banter during the Oval Office meeting also touched on Vice President JD Vance's shamrock-themed socks and Trump nemesis Rosie O’Donnell 's recent move to Ireland. The Republican president has been sparring with U.S. allies and adversaries alike over trade, slapping double-digit tariffs on imports from countries from Canada to China and in between. During the appearance with Martin, Trump repeated his claim that the European Union was created just to stick it to the U.S. Asked if Ireland, a member of the EU, was taking advantage, too, Trump said, “of course they are. I have great respect for Ireland and what they did and they should have done just what they did, but the United States shouldn’t have let it happen.” He was referring to the concentration of U.S. pharmaceutical companies in Ireland, due to the country's tax policies. “We had stupid leaders. We had leaders that didn’t have a clue or let’s say they weren’t businesspeople, but they didn’t have a clue what was happening and all of a sudden Ireland has our pharmaceutical companies," Trump said. Martin countered that the trade relationship is “a two-way street,” adding that Ireland's two largest airlines buy more aircrafts from Boeing Co. than anyone else outside of America. More than 700 Irish companies are also based in America, creating thousands of jobs, Martin said. “That's a little known fact that doesn't turn up in the statistics,” he added. Portugal’s govt falls prompting early election after confidence vote “I understand where you're coming from, fully,” Martin told Trump, “but I think it's a relationship that we can develop and that will endure into the future.” At one point, Trump became distracted as he talked about inflation in the U.S. “By the way, I love these socks. What’s with these socks? I’m trying to stay focused, but I’m very impressed with the VP’s socks,” Trump said, drawing chuckles from others in the room. Vance had worn socks patterned with small green shamrocks as a nod to Martin's visit. When a reporter asked Martin why his country would let O'Donnell move there, Trump jumped at the opening. “I like that question,” the president said, adding that Martin was ”better off not knowing” about O'Donnell. O'Donnell, a comedian and former talk-show host, and Trump have feuded for years. O’Donnell, who is gay, recently announced that she moved to Ireland in January, citing a lack of equal rights in America. Trump found a way to sneak his penchant for professional fighting into the discourse. As the meeting wrapped, Trump was asked to name his favorite person in Ireland. Trump referred to Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, partly because "he's got the best tattoos I’ve ever seen.” Trump is well known for his support of Ultimate Fighting Championship and attended bouts during the 2024 presidential campaign. He noted that Martin’s father was an acclaimed boxer, but motioned to Martin saying, “You’re so smooth,” suggesting he did not look like a boxer. “I’m a pretty good defensive boxer,” Martin joked in reply.

Fulbright scholar Aubrey Lay was supposed to receive three months’ worth of payments from the U.S. government for his teaching assistantship at a school for Ukrainian refugees in Estonia. However, he only received approximately one week’s pay, with no indication of when the rest of his grant would be disbursed, reports AP. US agents arrest Palestinian activist who led Columbia University protests Lay is one of many scholars worldwide who rely on State Department funding to participate in long-standing programmes such as Fulbright. These scholars report that their payments were suddenly halted after being informed that their activities were under review. This decision appears to align with the White House’s push to significantly reduce government spending, a shift that has affected numerous federal agencies. In the coming weeks and months, the government is set to undergo even more drastic changes. President Donald Trump has instructed agencies to develop plans for extensive layoffs, known as reductions in force, which will likely result in scaled-back operations at agencies delivering essential services. The funding freeze has left thousands of scholars stranded outside their home countries, uncertain about the future of their programmes or how they will sustain themselves financially. In February, the U.S. State Department temporarily halted spending to conduct a review of its programmes and activities, according to NAFSA, an association of international educators. This pause included initiatives such as the Fulbright, Gilman, and Critical Language international scholarships. Since the spending freeze was implemented, scholars and advocacy groups have reported that grant payments have stopped, with no communication from U.S. officials regarding whether the situation will change. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press for comment on the funding suspension. Lay expressed frustration over the lack of communication from U.S. officials. He also worried about the future of a programme that his grandmother had taken part in decades ago. Established in 1946, Fulbright has become a flagship initiative for the U.S. government’s cross-cultural engagement efforts. However, his biggest concern is the impact on his students if he is forced to leave prematurely. “I don’t want to be yet another source of instability and uncertainty in their lives,” Lay said. “That thought is unbearable to me.” Lay said he could manage for another month, but he feared for participants who lacked financial savings. “The only clarity I have is that nobody knows what’s happening,” he said. “Every time I ask someone, they have no answers and are just as confused as I am.” According to the Fulbright Association, a nonprofit comprising programme alumni, thousands of scholars are in situations similar to Lay’s. In a newsletter email, the association reported that the funding halt affects “over 12,500 American students, youth, and professionals currently abroad or scheduled to take part in State Department programmes over the next six months.” Beyond U.S. citizens, the Fulbright Association noted that the pause had also cut funding for U.S.-based programmes that host over 7,400 individuals. Halyna Morozova, a Fulbright scholar from Kyiv who teaches Ukrainian at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, had just endured an exhausting day at the airport on 28 February. That same day, President Trump had harshly criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a highly unusual Oval Office meeting, leaving Morozova deeply worried about the future of her country and her family back home. Who is Mark Carney, the next prime minister of Canada? Then, she received an email from the Institute of International Education (IIE), which administers the Fulbright scholarship. “IIE is currently authorised to send you a partial stipend equivalent to one week of your anticipated upcoming stipend payment,” the email stated. “We will provide updates on future payments as soon as possible.” Morozova panicked. Typically, she received $750 per month. Now, she had to stretch just $187.50 to cover her expenses. “It was terrifying—not only because I am stranded in another country,” she said. “We have no idea if we will receive another stipend here, or even if they have the funds to buy our tickets home. So much is uncertain.” Olga Bezhanova, a professor overseeing Morozova and two other scholars, said the exchange programme had been an integral part of her university’s language education for nearly two decades. Now, she is exploring whether the university can supplement the scholars’ lost funds. If that is not feasible, she admitted she was unsure of what else could be done. “I have to look into the faces of these brilliant individuals as they ask me, ‘Is this really America? What is happening?’” she said. “This is an absolute mess.”

Federal immigration officials apprehended a Palestinian activist on Saturday who was a key figure in the Columbia University demonstrations against Israel, marking a significant intensification of the Trump administration’s commitment to detain and deport student protesters, reports AP. Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student at Columbia until last December, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his university-owned apartment. His attorney, Amy Greer, informed The Associated Press that ICE agents claimed to be acting on State Department orders to revoke Khalil’s student visa. When Greer clarified that Khalil was a permanent U.S. resident with a green card, the agents asserted that his residency status was being revoked instead. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Khalil’s arrest, stating it was in line with President Trump’s executive orders against anti-Semitism. This marks the first known deportation action under Trump’s crackdown on students involved in last spring’s campus protests against the Gaza war, with the administration alleging that such activists forfeited their right to remain in the U.S. by supporting Hamas. McLaughlin suggested Khalil’s arrest was directly tied to his role in the protests, alleging that he led activities connected to Hamas, a designated terrorist group. Israel cuts off electricity supply to Gaza, affecting a plant producing drinking water During the arrest, ICE officers also allegedly threatened to detain Khalil’s wife, a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant, according to Greer. Initially, authorities informed Khalil’s legal team that he was being held at a detention centre in Elizabeth, New Jersey, but when his wife attempted to visit, she was told he was not there. As of Sunday night, Greer said his whereabouts remained unknown. Columbia University did not confirm whether law enforcement had presented a warrant before entering its property. A university spokesperson stated that officials must show a warrant before accessing campus premises but declined to comment further on Khalil’s detention. On social media, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the administration was revoking visas and green cards of Hamas supporters to facilitate their deportation. Under U.S. law, green card holders can face deportation for various alleged offences, including support for a terrorist organisation. However, immigration experts described Khalil’s detention—despite no formal criminal charges—as an unusual and legally uncertain move. “This appears to be retaliation against someone for expressing views that the Trump administration opposes,” said Camille Mackler, founder of the immigrant advocacy group Immigrant ARC. Khalil, who completed his master's in international affairs at Columbia, played a key role as a student negotiator during discussions with university officials about dismantling a protest encampment last spring. His visibility in the movement led to increasing pressure from pro-Israel activists urging his deportation. Additionally, Khalil was under investigation by a newly established Columbia University office that has brought disciplinary charges against several students over their pro-Palestinian activism. The Trump administration recently moved to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to Columbia, citing the university’s failure to curb alleged antisemitism on campus. Khalil faced disciplinary actions for his involvement with the Columbia University Apartheid Divest group. The university’s allegations included his alleged participation in an unauthorised march that praised Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack and his role in spreading anti-Zionist social media content. More than 1,000 people dead in clashes between Syrian govt forces and Asad loyalists “I have about 13 charges against me, mostly for social media posts I had nothing to do with,” Khalil told the AP last week. “They just want to appease Congress and right-wing politicians, regardless of how this affects students. It’s an attempt to suppress pro-Palestinian speech.”