Daniel Schwarz, a Texas father, has entered a guilty plea to manslaughter for making his adoptive daughter, Jaylin, age 8, bounce on a trampoline in sweltering 110-degree heat without food or water as a form of discipline. In August 2020, Jaylin tragically died from dehydration as a result of this terrible tragedy. The New York Post reports that as part of a plea agreement, 49-year-old Schwarz will spend 18 years behind bars.
The sad event began on August 29, 2020, when Daniel Schwarz’s adopted daughter, Jaylin, was eight years old, and officials were called to his home to respond to a medical emergency. Ector County District Attorney’s office investigators found that 48-year-old Schwarz and his wife Ashley had cruelly punished Jaylin by making her bounce on a trampoline for a long time in the sweltering heat without food or water. During the incident, the trampoline’s surface temperature rose to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. According to FOX 8 sister station KMID, police also stated that woman was not permitted to drink water after jumping.
According to the Ector County District Attorney’s Office, Jaylin died as a result of the harsh punishment she received from Schwarz and his wife, Ashley. According to the autopsy, Jaylin’s cause of death was determined to be dehydration, and her death was determined to be a homicide. In 2023, Ashley Schwarz received three life sentences for capital murder.
Dusty Gallivan, the county’s district attorney, said in a statement, “This result is a credit to the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors and the Odessa Police Department in seeking justice.”
Notably, Jaylin was the Schwarzes’ adopted daughter, and at the time of her passing, the couple and her birth mother, Alysha Anderton, were fighting over custody. Jaylin’s sibling was also under the Schwarzes’ custody. Anderton shared her sorrow on Facebook after Jaylin passed away, stating that she had been unable to communicate with her daughter for three years.
“All I can think about is her passing away without realizing how much I adore and desired her. It is unfair that they have so many memories of her while I only have a huge hole in my heart that leaves me feeling empty and numb. I will never be the same again since a piece of my soul has died,” she wrote.
Passengers onboard the Jaffar Express in Pakistan’s Balochistan, have spoken of “doomsday scenes”. “We held our breath throughout the firing, not knowing what would happen next,” Ishaq Noor, who was on board during the hijack, told the BBC. Passengers onboard the Jaffar Express in Pakistan’s Balochistan, have spoken of “doomsday scenes”. “We held our breath throughout the firing, not knowing what would happen next,” Ishaq Noor, who was on board during the hijack, told the BBC.
400 passengers were travelling from Quetta to Peshawar on Tuesday when the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attacked the train and took some as hostages.
Per the military, 190 passengers have been freed and 27 militants killed. The rescue operations are ongoing. However, the BLA has warned of “severe consequences” if any attempt is made to rescue the remaining hostages.
According to reports, security officials have said that some militants have taken a few passengers up the mountainous area.
Muhammad Ashraf who was travelling to visit family from Quetta to Lahore said, “There was a lot of fear among the passengers. It was a scene of doomsday,” he said. He and his wife tried to protect their child by shielding amidst gunfire. “If a bullet comes our way, it will hit us and not the children,” he said.
In Balochi, the assailants were chatting with one another when their leader continuously instructed them to “keep an eye” on the security guards in particular to ensure that [the attackers] did not lose them. One of the passengers in the train’s carriage, Mushtaq Muhammad, described the attack as “unforgettable”.
The terrorists began releasing some Balochistani citizens, women, children, and elderly travelers on Tuesday night.
The BBC witnessed the loading of wooden coffins at the Quetta railway station on Wednesday. They were being transported for potential casualties, according to an official.
The train hijacking has “gravely worried” Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission.
In a statement on X, it said, “We strongly urge all relevant stakeholders to forge an urgent rights-based, pro-people consensus on the issues faced by citizens in Balochistan and to find a peaceful, political solution.”
Climate activists and Democrats claim that the Trump administration’s decision to cut $20 billion in financing for greenhouse gas reduction initiatives unlawfully appropriates funds intended for renewable energy and transportation for underserved communities.
Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, had made public his campaign to recover funds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which Congress allocated during the Biden administration to launch pollution-reduction programs.
Although it provided no specifics, the EPA stated in a statement late on Tuesday that it had retracted the funding, claiming the initiative did not fit with the agency’s aims and raising concerns about possible fraud, waste, and abuse.
It further stated that the FBI and the US Justice Department are examining the operation.
Although the EPA did not specify how it would use the monies, it stated that it would endeavor to utilize them “with strengthened controls” in accordance with the law.
“EPA will not be a wasteful spender in the name of ‘climate equity,’ but rather an outstanding steward of public dollars committed to our primary purpose of preserving human health and the environment,” Zeldin stated.
Under Democratic President Joe Biden, the $20 billion was provided by Congress under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. In the face of legal challenges, the EPA has attempted to block funds for environmental justice and climate change under his successor, Republican Donald Trump.
Since it and seven other beneficiaries have been unable to access the monies, the Climate United Fund advocacy group filed a lawsuit against the EPA and Citigroup’s Citibank over the weekend, alleging that they withheld the payments and violated what it described as a legally-binding contractual commitment as an awardee.
During his visit to Mauritius on Tuesday for the National Day celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave President Dharambeer Gokhool and First Lady Brinda Gokhool a number of symbolic gifts that showcased India’s rich spiritual and cultural legacy.
The president of Mauritius was presented with Makhana, a nutrient-dense superfood from Bihar, as a tribute to India’s rich agricultural past. This donation was made at a pivotal moment, as the Indian government recently declared in the 2025 Budget that a specialized Makhana Board will be established in Bihar.
By forming farmers into Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and offering them assistance and training to guarantee they take advantage of government programs, the board hopes to improve makhana production, processing, value addition, and marketing.
PM Modi gave the First Lady a stunning Banarasi saree, a Varanasi traditional masterpiece known for its pricey silk, elaborate brocades, and sumptuous zari work.
A specially made brass and copper pitcher filled with holy water from the Sangam in Prayagraj, which was gathered during the ongoing Mahakumbh, was also given as a gift. This gesture represented the close spiritual and cultural ties that Mauritius and India share.
PM Modi highlighted the close diplomatic and cultural relations between the two countries earlier in the day by attending the Mauritius National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest. The Prime Minister thanked President Gokhool for the cordial welcome and reaffirmed India’s dedication to its long-standing friendship with Mauritius during a special lunch hosted by the president. He characterized the occasion as a representation of the strong and intimate relations between the two nations as well as a meal.
Prime Minister Modi was given a traditional Bihari welcome in Mauritius earlier in the day, with a “geet gawai” event held in his honor.
The traditional Bhojpuri musical group “Geet gawain” represents the rich cultural legacy that women from India’s Bhojpuri belt brought to Mauritius.
“Happy arrival in Mauritius. The Geet-Gawai performance’s profound cultural connection was one of the highlights. PM Modi wrote on X, “It is admirable how the great Bhojpuri language flourishes in Mauritius culture.”
Nearly seventeen years ago, on May 28, 2008, to be precise, Nepal ended a ten-year civil war that had claimed the lives of over 16,000 people by abolishing a Hindu monarchy that had existed for 239 years, with Gyanendra Shah as its king. It was reconstituted as a federal, secular republic with a Hindu majority.
Amid worries about political instability, corruption, a crisis in the cost of living, unemployment, and a lack of economic development, thousands of people—some estimates put the number at over 10,000—staged a campaign on Sunday to reverse the course of history and urge the return of Shah.
As Shah, who had been traveling the country, maybe to gauge the strength of support, stepped out of the Kathmandu airport, the chant “Come King, save the nation…” echoed.
“The nation is unstable. There is a shortage of healthcare and education, exorbitant costs, and unemployment,” 43-year-old teacher and pro-monarchy demonstrator Rajindra Kunwar told AFP. “The public is subject to the law, but politicians are exempt. We therefore require the king.
Having had 13 governments since 2008, Nepal’s “instability” is highlighted.
This is not new, to start.
Most people held the Nepalese monarch in high regard prior to its abolition.
Following Shah’s 2005 takeover of power, that declined. When anti-monarchy demonstrations erupted in 2006, Shah was compelled to cede his recently acquired power to the nascent administration.
However, reverence for the Hindu royalty remained.
Periodically, there were demonstrations demanding the king’s return. The most recent was in 2020, when The Record Nepal reported widespread protests by Hindu and royalist parties, notably in the east, the region from where current Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli hails.
Additionally, in 2023, police in Kathmandu used tear gas on a crowd calling for the restoration of the monarchy.
The fifth-largest Hindu nationalist party in the House, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, was largely responsible for the resurgence of such sentiments on Sunday.
Gyanendra Shah’s popularity has reportedly grown, according to the Kathmandu Post, but political observers there do not anticipate him regaining power.
Why Does Nepal Now Support the Monarchy?
To put it briefly, the people of Nepal are not happy with their nation as a republic.
According to data from the International Monetary Fund, economic growth has slowed recently. Before dropping to less than 5% last year, real GDP reached a peak of 9% in 2015. Last year, the average consumer price inflation rate was 4.6%.
People who greeted Shah at the airport on Sunday expressed their hope that a change will occur to prevent their nation from getting worse. “We are here to support the king wholeheartedly and to stand by him through thick and thin.” Thir Bahadur, 72, said to The Associated Press.
There are also former anti-monarchists involved.
After protesting to overthrow Shah, 30-year-old carpenter Kulraj Shrestha has changed his views and is now in favor of the monarchy. “The worst issue is that lawmakers are doing nothing because of widespread corruption. I participated in the demonstrations that overthrew the monarchy, but I was wrong, and the country has since fallen much worse. Thus, I have had a change of heart,” he informed AP.
With a record 8,658 complaints submitted in 2024—a 7.4% rise from the previous year—the United States saw a startling uptick in violence and discrimination against Muslims and Arabs. The growing Islamophobia stoked by Israel’s war in Gaza and the protests that followed on campuses is blamed for this worrying trend.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reports that since it started gathering data in 1996, the number of complaints received in 2024 was the greatest. With 15.4% of the complaints, employment discrimination was the most common, followed by hate crimes (7.5%), immigration and asylum concerns (14.8%), and discrimination in education (9.8%).
Rights activists have warned about the surge in anti-Semitism, anti-Arab prejudice, and Islamophobia after the October 2023 Hamas attack, which sparked Israel’s catastrophic assault on Gaza. The US-sponsored genocide in Gaza “caused a surge of Islamophobia in the United States for the second year in a row,” CAIR emphasized.
The death of a six-year-old Palestinian American boy, the attempted drowning of a three-year-old Palestinian American girl, the stabbing of a Palestinian American man in Texas, the beating of a Muslim man in New York, and the shooting of two Israeli tourists in Florida who were mistaken for Palestinians are just a few of the alarming instances of violence and harassment against Muslims and Arabs that are highlighted in the report.
Additionally, CAIR said that pro-Palestine protesters calling for an end to US support for Israel were being suppressed on college campuses. Administrators at the university were suspended, resigned, and violently arrested as a result of the protests. Notable events include the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student who was instrumental in planning protests at Columbia University, and the mob attack on pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Rights activists are alarmed by President Donald Trump’s calls for more measures to quell the protests. “The first arrest of many” is what Trump said on social media about Khalil’s arrest.
“The Trump Administration will not accept it,” he continued, adding that more Columbia and other universities nationwide have students who have participated in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, and anti-American activities.
CAIR New York Executive Director Afaf Nasher denounced the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil as a “shocking escalation” that “sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the civil liberties of all.” Rights groups are deeply alarmed by the episode, fearing that it could be the first of many arrests made against pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
Justin Trudeau was photographed leaving Parliament with a chair and his tongue protruding after he resigned as prime minister of Canada.
In a post on X, Brian Lilley, a political columnist for the Toronto Sun, pointed out that it is customary for Canadian legislators to take their seats with them when they depart Parliament.
“Any MP is free to take their chair and seat with them when they depart the Commons. I support this tradition because I think it is fantastic. Still, it is a strange picture of Trudeau taking his. He remarked on X, “Perhaps another indication of an impending election.”
Hours before the announcement of his successor as his party’s leader, Justin Trudeau emphasized the Liberal Party’s “achievements” over the previous ten years in his remarks as he stepped down, according to CBC News.
“I am damn proud of what we have done over these past 10 years for the middle class and the folks working hard to join it,” Justin Nauau stated during his statement at the Liberal Leadership Convention.
Justin Trudeau addressed the gathering as the Liberal Party embarks on a new chapter, saying, “There is a responsibility to ensure that Canada stays the best country on Earth! He asked his followers to continue fighting as hard as they can for Canada in one of his final speeches as Liberal leader and prime minister of Canada.
In response to public outrage over his government’s handling of a housing crisis and growing living expenses, Justin Trudeau resigned on January 6 as both prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party.
Mark Carney, Canada’s prime minister-designate, was chosen on Sunday to guide the Liberal Party of Canada into the upcoming federal elections later this year.
Carney took on this responsibility as Canada tries to avoid a trade war with US President Donald Trump.
He wrote in a post on X, “Thank you. We are strongest when we are united, therefore let us work together to create a stronger Canada.
Because of its affiliation with the prosperous Chinese artificial intelligence business DeepSeek, a little rural town in southern China has become a bustling tourist destination. The village is famous because Liang Wenfeng, the founder of DeepSeek, was born there. Liang’s modest upbringing in Milling village has inspired residents and drawn tourists from far and wide. According to the Southern Countryside Newspaper, the village has a new look thanks to modifications made by local officials as a result of its increased popularity.
Mr. Wenfeng, 40, hails from a family of educators, according to the South China Morning Post. Both of his parents teach at the local elementary school in Milling village, which is situated in Wuchuan, a tiny city in the Guangdong province’s Zhanjiang prefecture.
Following his elementary schooling in the hamlet, Mr. Wenfeng enrolled in Wuchuan No. 1 Middle School, a well-known establishment in the area. After achieving remarkable results in the fiercely demanding Gaokao University entrance exam, he was accepted to the esteemed Zhejiang University in 2002 as a result of his academic ability.
When his business, DeepSeek, debuted its state-of-the-art AI product in late January, competing with well-known American rivals, his incredible journey garnered international attention. Consequently, a large number of people who were impressed by Liang’s accomplishments came to see his modest beginnings in Milling Village.
According to Liang Wenfen, the village committee’s representative, Milling Village, which has a population of over 700, is a close-knit community where older members labor in agriculture and younger generations usually work in local shoe factories.
The village has changed dramatically as a result of Mr. Wenfeng. The community had no industrial development before then, and its only source of income was the 10,000 yuan (US$1,400) annual rent for fish ponds.
Since then, the town has grown in popularity as a travel destination, drawing groups of people such as families and business workers. An incredible 10,000 guests visited the area every day during the Spring Festival holiday.
The village’s infrastructure was initially unable to meet the demand despite the surge of tourists. Due to visitor complaints about the unsatisfactory conditions, a renovation project was started in the middle of February. The community has greatly improved as a result of the repairs, even if the source of funds is still unknown.
Roads have been enlarged, sewage systems installed, trees planted, decaying structures removed, and the exterior walls of 29 homes renovated. But despite the excitement, Liang Wenfeng’s grandfather has had to spend the majority of the day with his front door closed out of concern for being harassed by the steady flow of tourists that come to his four-story family home.
According to a local, “some tourists took away a pile of earth, some stones, or fragments of leaves.”
The locals have thanked Mr. Wenfeng from the bottom of their hearts, attributing life-changing changes to him. The residents have also set up a foundation to assist high-achieving students, motivated by his extraordinary achievement.
In reaction to the province of Ontario imposing a 25% tariff on energy entering the US, Donald Trump doubled his planned duty on all steel and aluminum items entering the US from Canada on Tuesday, raising the total to 50%.
In a tweet on Truth Social, Donald Trump stated that he has directed his commerce secretary to impose an extra 25% duty on the goods, which will take effect on Wednesday morning.
Additionally, Canada has to quickly remove their anti-American farmer tariff, which has long been seen as absurd and ranges from 250% to 390% on a variety of dairy goods from the United States. Donald Trump wrote, “I will shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity inside the threatened area.”
Additionally, he said that on April 2, “if other egregious, long term Tariffs are not likewise abolished by Canada,” auto import duties would “significantly increase.”
With his hands folded, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Indian community in Mauritius. “I went to Mauritius on the same day ten years ago,” he remembered. A week had passed since Holi. This time, I shall travel to India with the colors of Holi. During his speech, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the evolution of India-Mauritius relations, referring to the two nations as “one family.”
“I feel like I am among my own people whenever I go to Mauritius. “The air, soil, and water here have a sense of belonging,” PM Modi remarked.
The greatest honor for PM Modi
PM Modi received the highest honor of Mauritius, “The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean,” according to Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam. In his speech, PM Modi thanked the Mauritius government and people and expressed his sincere acceptance of the honor.
“I have been bestowed with the highest civilian honor by the people and government of Mauritius. I respectfully and sincerely accept this decision. This is an honor for the longstanding relationship between Mauritius and India, not just for me,” he stated. “When the Pran Prathistha event took place in Ayodhya and jubilation erupted in India, we observed similar festivities in Mauritius,” Prime Minister Modi stated in reference to the relationship between India and Mauritius.
PM Modi revealed that he gave President Dharambeer Gokhool Gangajal, or holy water, which he had obtained from Maha Kumbh. “Tomorrow, this sacred water will be presented to the Ganga pond here. Ganga Jal was transported from Gaumukh to Mauritius fifty years ago, where it was presented to the Ganga pond.
“If we look in terms of language and food, there is a mini-India existing in Mauritius,” Prime Minister Modi said, referring to the island nation as a bouquet of diverse cultures. This is a miniature version of India.
According to PM Modi, Mauritius has appeared in a number of Indian motion pictures. “Shooting in Mauritius boosts the chances of an Indian film being a smash,” he continued.
“Mauritius is more than simply a partner nation. Mauritius is family to us. This connection, which has its roots in history, tradition, and the human spirit, is profound and powerful. Additionally, Mauritius serves as a link between India and the larger global South. I unveiled India’s SAGAR vision ten years ago, in 2015, my first year as prime minister. Security and Growth for All in the Region is what SAGAR stands for. Mauritius is central to this ambition today,” PM Modi stated.
“India is always on Mauritius’ side.”
Prime Minister Modi declared, “India is a proud partner in Mauritius’ capacity building. Whether it is investment or infrastructure, commerce or crisis response, India always stands with Mauritius.”
“In times of crisis, India has always stood with Mauritius,” he continued, citing instances in which India had aided its friend. “India was the first nation to provide one lakh vaccines and necessary medications during COVID-19. India is the first to respond to a crisis in Mauritius. India is the first to rejoice when Mauritius prospers. Mauritius is family to us.
Bihar Receives Particular Attention
While speaking to the Indian community in Mauritius, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alternated between speaking in Hindi and Bhojpuri. “Bihar’s Makhana will soon be a part of the global snack menu,” Prime Minister Modi stated in reference to the superfood Makhana, also known as foxnuts.
According to PM Modi, he enjoys makhana.
OCI Cards for Wife Veena and Mauritian PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam
In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the issuance of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam and his wife Veena Ramgoolam. The announcement was made at a community event attended by more than 3,500 people, including members of the Mauritius Cabinet, government officials, and National Assembly members.
PM Modi handed over the OCI cards to Mr Ramgoolam and Veena at the beginning of the community event.
PM Modi On A Two-Day Visit To Mauritius
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam today, the opening day of his two-day visit to Mauritius. As part of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, PM Modi first went to the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, where the two prime ministers jointly planted a tree.
PM Modi honored Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Mauritius’s first prime minister and founding father, as well as Sir Anerood Jugnauth, the country’s former president and prime minister.
PM Modi met with President Dharambeer Gokhool of the Republic of Mauritius at the State House later that day. PM Modi sent President Gokhool Gangajal (holy water) from Maha Kumbh and the superfood Makhana (foxnuts), while Brinda Gokhool, the first lady of Mauritius, received a Banarasi saree in a Sadeli box.
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