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The Israeli military launched extensive airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza on Tuesday, resulting in at least 66 deaths and injuring around 150 people, marking the most significant escalation since a ceasefire began on January 19. The strikes were ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in response to Hamas's refusal to release hostages and to reject proposals from U.S. mediators. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the military operations aimed to achieve specific wartime objectives, including the release of hostages. Meanwhile, truce talks have stalled, with Israel seeking to extend the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement while Hamas insists on resuming hostage releases only under subsequent phases. The conflict, which began with a Hamas raid on October 7, 2023, has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths and significant casualties on both sides. 
Published: Mar 18 2025, 7 ameznews.inNASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have experienced an extraordinary nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), originally planned for eight days, due to delays with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Their time in space has been marked by significant contributions to ISS maintenance, including critical repairs and participation in over 150 scientific experiments, such as studies on space agriculture. Notably, Williams conducted two spacewalks alongside Wilmore, tackling essential maintenance tasks. The duo also celebrated holidays in microgravity, casting their votes in the US presidential election and engaging in festive activities like a floating Christmas celebration. They maintained rigorous exercise routines to counteract muscle loss in zero gravity. As they prepare for their return to Earth, Williams has sent messages of encouragement to students and athletes, highlighting the importance of science and exploration. Their journey underscores the blend of critical research and personal experiences in space.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 11 ameznews.inUS President Donald Trump on Monday asserted that his predecessor, Joe Biden, used an autopen to issue presidential pardons, declaring them "void, vacant, and of no further force or effect." Trump claimed that these pardons, including those granted to members of the "Unselect Committee of political thugs," were not personally signed by Biden and suggested that aides may have acted without his knowledge, potentially committing a crime. While Trump provided no evidence for his assertions, an NBC report confirmed that Biden did use an autopen during his presidency. An autopen is a device that mimics an individual's signature, and according to a 2005 Justice Department ruling, autopen signatures are legally binding. Although Trump has criticized Biden's use of the device, he himself used an autopen to sign executive orders during his presidency, as noted by a Fox News analysis.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 12 pmeznews.inThe family of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian student who went missing in the Dominican Republic, has requested police to declare her dead following an extensive search that has yielded no results. Ms. Konanki was last seen on March 6 at the Riu Republic Resort in Punta Cana, where she was reportedly with a group of friends. US federal law enforcement is collaborating with Dominican authorities on the investigation. The last person known to be with her, Joshua Steven Riibe, has had his passport confiscated but is not considered a suspect. Riibe, who has cooperated with investigators, described an incident in which he attempted to save Ms. Konanki after she became fatigued while swimming. The Konanki family has expressed trust in the investigation and acknowledged the absence of foul play in their request for a declaration of death.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 12 pmeznews.inIn a bid to combat its declining birth rate, Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, has introduced a series of childcare subsidies, including a daily cup of free milk for new mothers. This initiative is part of a broader strategy by over 20 provincial administrations across China to encourage young couples to marry and have children, as the nation faces its third consecutive year of population decline. Marriages have dropped by 20%, the steepest decline on record, attributed to the legacy of the one-child policy, rapid urbanization, and the high cost of raising children. Premier Li Qiang announced additional support measures during the recent parliamentary session, including free preschool education. Hohhot's financial incentives include a one-off payment of 10,000 yuan for first children and annual subsidies for subsequent children, reflecting a significant investment in family support aimed at reversing demographic trends.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 12 pmeznews.inStarting March 28, 2025, Amazon Echo users will no longer have the choice to process their Alexa voice recordings locally, as the feature "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" will be discontinued. This change means that voice recordings will be sent to Amazon's cloud for processing, although the company assures users that these recordings will be deleted after processing. Users who do not take action will see their settings automatically updated to "Don't save recordings," which may limit personalized features like voice ID and calendar access. The decision coincides with the launch of a new version of Alexa, called Alexa+, which integrates generative AI capabilities requiring cloud processing. Amazon noted that the opt-in feature was rarely used, with less than 0.03 percent of customers opting in. The announcement has sparked privacy concerns among users, many of whom are reconsidering their use of Alexa devices.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 12 pmeznews.inA recent study published in _Environment & Health_ has revealed that intravenous (IV) drip bags used in hospitals may contain thousands of harmful plastic particles, specifically microplastics, which could be directly injected into patients' bloodstreams. Researchers analyzed common brands of IV saline solution bags and estimated that each bag could contain around 7,500 microplastic particles, a figure that could rise to 25,000 during standard dehydration treatments and exceed 52,000 during abdominal surgeries. The study emphasized the urgent need for stringent quality control measures in the production of IV drips, suggesting the implementation of advanced filtration systems and enhanced monitoring within the medical supply chain to prevent contamination. Microplastics, which are tiny plastic fragments found globally, have been detected in various human tissues, raising concerns about their potential health risks and prompting calls for a global emergency to address this pervasive pollution issue.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 10 ameznews.inA 30-year-old teacher and soccer coach at Downers Grove South High School, Christina Formella, has been charged with multiple felonies, including criminal sexual assault, following allegations of sexual abuse involving a 15-year-old student. The charges stem from a report made by the student and his mother to police on Saturday, detailing an incident during a tutoring session in December 2023. Formella was arrested during a traffic stop on Sunday and appeared in court the following day, where she was granted pre-trial release with conditions prohibiting her from entering the school or contacting minors. District officials expressed their deep concern for the victim and the wider school community, emphasizing their commitment to student safety. Formella, who has been with the school since 2020 and has coached soccer since 2021, has been placed on paid administrative leave and is set to return to court on April 14.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore have left the International Space Station (ISS) after a prolonged stay of over nine months. The duo, who were originally expected to return after a short mission, faced delays due to propulsion issues with Boeing's Starliner, which forced them to be reassigned to the NASA-SpaceX Crew-9 mission. They undocked from the ISS at 10:35 AM IST and are set for a 17-hour journey back to Earth, with a splashdown expected off Florida's coast at around 3:27 AM IST on Wednesday. Their extended stay has sparked political controversy, with former President Donald Trump and advisor Elon Musk accusing the Biden administration of neglecting the astronauts' situation. Williams and Wilmore's stay ranks among the longest for US astronauts, although it remains significantly shorter than the world record of 437 days held by Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 10 ameznews.inThe spacecraft tasked with returning stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth has successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS), marking the beginning of their long-awaited journey home. NASA confirmed that the Crew-9 spacecraft undocked at 10:35 am IST, releasing a video that captured the moment of separation from the ISS. The astronauts had been stuck in space, and this development signals a significant step towards their safe return. As the Crew-9 embarks on its journey, anticipation grows for the reunion of the astronauts with their families and the completion of their mission.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 10 ameznews.inThe interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, has voiced "deep concern" over comments made by Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence, regarding religious persecution in the country. In an interview, Gabbard highlighted the "unfortunate persecution, killing, and abuse" of religious minorities, claiming that the threat of Islamic terrorism in Bangladesh is rooted in an ideology aimed at establishing an Islamist caliphate. The Bangladeshi government responded by labeling her statements as misleading and damaging, asserting that they lack evidence and unjustly generalize the nation. It emphasized Bangladesh's commitment to combating extremism through law enforcement and social reforms and condemned any association with an Islamist caliphate. The government urged political leaders to base their statements on facts to avoid stoking sectarian tensions. This exchange follows a period of unrest in Bangladesh, leading to concerns for the safety of religious minorities.
Published: Mar 18 2025, 11 am
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