US lose 5-2 to Belgium in rude awakening for World Cup hosts

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a bill that would have required the state to be part of the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship.

Evers called the program a nationwide expansion of private voucher schools while proponents of the legislation say that it simply allows every taxpayer to donate up to $1,700 to help fund education.

“The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ created the first major federal program to effectively redirect public funds to private school tuition through tax incentives,” Evers wrote in his veto. “It is the first-ever federal effort to fund private school scholarships through vouchers the federal government will pay individuals in exchange for donating to organizations that award scholarships to attend private schools.”

Evers said that the tax credit is a redirect of tax money that should be received by the government to pay for programs and instead it is being redirected to private schools.

“Put another way, the federal government is now going to use public funds that should be used for public schools to essentially reimburse donors for helping fund private schools instead,” Evers wrote. “No joke.”

The Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools, however, argued that public schools stand to benefit also.

“The FTCS simply allows taxpayers to make a charitable contribution to the educational entity of their choice,” the group said in a statement. “As public schools have far more students than private schools, public schools stand to gain so much more funding through the FTCS. We see the value of a healthy educational ecosystem in Wisconsin, and the FTCS will help to ensure every student in Wisconsin has the ability and the resources to succeed.”

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insulted and criticized Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, famously calling him a "numbskull" and demanding the independent central bank lower interest rates despite stubbornly high inflation.

The Trump administration has ramped up the pressure on Powell, initiating an unprecedented investigation into him over cost overruns related to a Fed building renovation project.

Powell's term as chairman is due to end in May, and Trump has named former central banker Kevin Warsh to replace him. But with the investigation ongoing, the process remains stalled.

- Where are we now? -

In theory, Powell will preside over his final interest-rate-setting meeting as Fed chair on April 28-29. 

Powell first took the helm of the Federal Reserve during Trump's first presidency in 2018, and was reappointed to the position under Democrat Joe Biden in 2022.

Since his return to power in January 2025, Trump has relentlessly attacked Powell, questioning his mental abilities and labelling him "too late" for not lowering interest rates at the Republican's preferred pace.

Trump has pressured Powell to resign and even threatened to fire him, although the president backed off the latter when markets reacted poorly to the move.

In 2025, the US president went as far as visiting the Fed's under-renovation headquarters, where he verbally tussled with Powell as the two toured the site.

The renovation project has seen cost estimates increase from an initial $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion.

In January, in an extraordinary move, Powell disclosed that Trump's Justice Department had threatened him with a criminal indictment as it investigated the renovation project.

"The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President," said Powell at the time.

Soon after, following a months-long process, Trump named Warsh, a former Fed governor, as his candidate to replace Powell.

- What's the hold-up? -

Warsh must now be confirmed by the US Senate before he can take up the role. 

The Justice Department probe, however, has ruffled many lawmakers' feathers, and Senator Thom Tillis -- a member of Trump's own party who sits on the Senate Banking Committee -- has vowed to hold up the nomination as long as the investigation remains unresolved.

Earlier this month, a federal judge quashed subpoenas issued to the Fed as part of the probe, with the court saying there was "a mountain of evidence" to suggest the investigation was a pressure tactic.

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro -- a Trump ally -- has vowed to appeal that decision.

While Powell's chairmanship ends in May, his term as a member of the Fed's board of governors runs until January 2028.

After the Fed's last rate-setting meeting in March, Powell vowed he would not leave his post as a Fed governor "until the investigation is well and truly over, with transparency and finality."

While it is not unheard of, it is rare for a Fed chair to remain on as a member of the board after their term as chief expires.

And as long as Warsh's nomination process continues, Powell can legally remain in his role as chair.

myl/els/eml/aha/mlm

Megastar singer Celine Dion on Monday announced her return to performing after a lengthy break prompted by a rare health condition, calling the comeback news revealed on her birthday "the best gift". 

Addressing fans in a video released on social media, the 58-year-old Canadian said her condition had improved and she would perform a series of shows in Paris beginning in September. 

"This year, I'm getting the best birthday gift of my life. I'm getting the chance to see you, to perform for you once again," she said. 

"I want to let you know that I'm doing great, managing my health, feeling good."

Dion first disclosed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, an incurable autoimmune disorder.

The Quebec-born star was forced to cancel the remainder of her shows indefinitely.

Treatment can help alleviate symptoms of the condition that can cause stiff muscles in the torso, arms and legs.

The 2024 documentary "I Am: Celine Dion" provided an intimate look at the charismatic performer's career and the severity of her pain from the condition, including suffering a seizure.

Despite the diagnosis, Dion vowed she would fight her way back to the stage.

"I'm not dead," the singer told AFP in 2024 on the red carpet ahead of the premiere of the documentary.

Later that year Dion sang from the Eiffel Tower for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony, while athletes sailed down the river in pouring rain.

- Singing again -

Dion was launched onto the global stage in 1988 representing Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin.

Then aged 20, she sang "Ne partez pas sans moi" (Don't Leave Without Me), which won her the prize. 

The following year, Dion opened the TV extravaganza for host Switzerland with her winning French-language song. 

She then premiered the single "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" -- heralding her career switch into English, which set her on the path to global chart domination.

She has sold more than 260 million albums during a career spanning decades, and has won five Grammys -- two for "My Heart Will Go On", the hit song from the 1997 epic "Titanic".

On Monday, Dion told fans that she has continued to feel their support despite her years off stage. 

"Even in my most difficult times, you were there for me. You've helped me in ways that I can't even describe, and I'm truly so fortunate to have your support," she said, describing that she was now "singing again, even doing a little bit of dancing". 

Dion is set to perform 10 shows over five weeks at the Paris La Defense Arena beginning on September 12. 

burs-giv/pdw

The New York Times and Trump administration clashed in a federal court on Monday over restrictions imposed by the Pentagon on journalists covering the Defense Department.

Judge Paul Friedman, in response to a lawsuit filed by the newspaper, ruled this month that new Pentagon policies regarding media access were unconstitutional and Times reporters should have their credentials restored.

The Trump administration has said it will appeal the ruling and the Defense Department responded with even tighter rules, closing a press area in the Pentagon called Correspondents' Corridor and moving reporters to an annex in a separate building.

In addition, under the new policy, "all journalist access to the Pentagon will require escort by authorized Department personnel."

Theodore Boutrous, a Times lawyer, accused the administration at a hearing before Friedman in a Washington court on Monday of "gaslighting" and "bad faith."

"We've seen this movie before," Boutrous said. "They made the press credentials that we fought so hard to get back meaningless."

Julian Barnes, a Times reporter, in a sworn declaration, noted that reporters were unable to access the new press facility on foot and were also not allowed to use a Pentagon shuttle bus.

"How weird is that?" Friedman responded. "Is it Catch 22? Is it Kafka?"

Barnes said Pentagon press accreditation pass holders were ultimately told they would be given permission to ride on the shuttle bus.

The judge, after hearing arguments from the Times and Sarah Welch, a lawyer representing the Justice Department, did not issue an immediate ruling.

US media and a host of other news outlets including AFP declined to sign the new access policy in mid-October, resulting in the loss of their Pentagon credentials.

The restrictions were the latest in a series of measures by President Donald Trump and top officials against journalists and outlets that are often derided as "fake news" when their reporting displeases the administration.

sst/cl/bgs

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit Monday against Minnesota, alleging the state's sports policies violate federal civil rights laws that protect against sex-based discrimination.

Title IX, the landmark federal law enacted in 1972, prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding.

The Justice Department's lawsuit marks a new legal fight in the ongoing national debate over transgender student participation in school sports, challenging Minnesota’s policies as a violation of federal protections against sex-based discrimination.

The lawsuit contends that the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League have engaged in sex-based discrimination by requiring girls to compete against boys in sports designated for girls.

"The Trump Administration does not tolerate flawed state policies that ignore biological reality and unfairly undermine girls on the playing field," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement.

The lawsuit asks a judge to rule that Minnesota's policies regarding student athletes are illegal and to declare that the state has violated Title IX. The DOJ said Minnesota gets $3 billion in yearly federal funding.

Federal prosecutors argue that the state's policies "eviscerate equal athletic opportunities for girls."

"They also require girls to share intimate spaces – such as locker rooms – with boys. Allowing boys to invade sensitive female-only spaces endangers girls' privacy, dignity, and safety – causing a hostile educational environment that denies girls educational opportunities," attorneys for the Civil Rights Division wrote in the complaint against the state.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office will stand up for transgender students.

"In April of last year, I sued the Trump administration to stop them from targeting trans kids who just want to play on their school team," he said in a statement to The Center Square. "This new suit is just a sad attempt to get attention over something that's already been in litigation for months."

(The Center Square) – Lines at airports will not be "truly normal" until Congress agrees to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Leavitt spoke at the White House Press briefing on Monday, providing an update on funding for the department after President Donald Trump signed an order Friday to provide paychecks for Transportation Security Administration officers amid an ongoing funding dispute in Congress.

"Nothing will be truly normal again until Democrats do the right thing to fund this agency fully again," Leavitt said. "The president has stepped in in the meantime to do what's right to end this crisis that we've had in air travel."

The Department of Homeland Security has gone without funds from Congress since Feb. 14. Leavitt estimated around 500 TSA employees have quit since the beginning of the shutdown, which forced TSA employees to work without getting paid.

On Friday, President Donald Trump issued a memorandum ordering DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought to use funds with a "reasonable and logical nexus" to TSA operations to fund the agency. 

Leavitt did not offer a timeline for how long officers can expect to be paid through Trump's order. Paychecks started to be sent out on Monday, according to DHS officials. Leaders in the administration have not clarified where funds for DHS are to come from. 

In the meantime, Leavitt called on Congress to return to Washington, D.C., and fund the department. Members of Congress are on a recess in observance of Easter and Passover. 

Leavitt said Trump would host an Easter dinner for Congressional leaders if they came back to vote on funding for DHS. 

"He's [Trump] calling on Congress to do the right thing, to come back to Washington and to fund and reopen the Department of Homeland Security fully," Leavitt said.  

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin congressman and candidate for governor Tom Tiffany said Monday that he plans to work with the federal Environmental Protection Agency in an effort to change Clean Air Act rules and end emissions testing in Wisconsin, calling the program both costly and ineffective.

The proposal was brought to Tiffany and the Wisconsin congressional delegation in December by a group including Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Greenfield. Vehicle emissions testing is currently required in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington and Waukesha counties because the area was designated a non-attainment zone.

Donovan and Tiffany both spoke Monday in front of the History Hose Tower in Greenfield about the costs of the emissions testing, including both a 1-cent per gallon petroleum tax and an estimated $271.4 million spent by Wisconsin residents from 1984 to 2022-23.

Congressman and candidate for governor Tom Tiffany and a group of Wisconsin legislators are pushing for an end to vehicle emissions testing in 7 counties pic.twitter.com/oZylAJEUYT

— Jon Styf (@JonStyf) March 30, 2026

The Wisconsin lawmakers cited advanced technology and a low failure rate of 3.1% and 3.0% in 2021 and 2022 for the program.

“It is not being done in an effective, efficient manner,” Tiffany said. “So, what we should do is set this program aside, try to get a waiver in regards to this, and allocate those resources - both manpower and money - toward things that are actually going to clean the environment because we want to ensure that we have clean air to live in here in Wisconsin.”

Matt Leppard, who owns a repair shop in Eagle, said that the emissions testing ruins the market for used cars with a check engine light on and can lead to costly repairs that need to then be prioritized over safety concerns such as new tires or other expenses for families.

“People should be allowed to drive a safe car,” Leppard said. “They should be able to put a kid in a car and not worry about that being their grocery budget every month. It’s not just the taxpayer that will save money, everybody will save money and it’s not a partisan issue.”

Tiffany said that he would not instead support a subsidy for those who need repairs, saying that would just be another taxpayer cost for a program that has not proven effective.

“Why are we continuing to do this 40 years later if it is ineffective?” Tiffany said.

Rep, Bob Donovan says it’s time to end emissions testing pic.twitter.com/MbIKfIJ7dM

— Jon Styf (@JonStyf) March 30, 2026

Donovan said that he marched in St. Patrick Days parades and heard residents speak up there to him, shouting that he should end the emissions tests.

“I think I speak for most of those residents when I say that each of us is willing to do our fair share of what the government asks of us if it makes sense,” Donovan said. “Well, this doesn’t make sense any longer.”

Cubans on Monday cautiously welcomed the imminent arrival of a Russian oil shipment, with some warning it would do little to ease an energy crisis after US President Donald Trump granted a reprieve from an oil blockade.

The Anatoly Kolodkin, a tanker under US sanctions carrying 730,000 barrels of crude, was due to arrive by Tuesday with the first shipment of oil to the communist-ruled island since January.

Trump's decision to let Russia deliver oil to Cuba avoids a confrontation with Moscow and provides a potential lifeline to a country that has endured blackouts, fuel rationing and dwindling public transportation.

"It's wonderful. Of course it's going to be a huge help given the situation we're facing in our country," Miriam Joseph, a 65-year-old government worker in Havana, told AFP.

Others said it was not enough to solve Cuba's crisis.

"It's a drop in the bucket compared to what this country needs. It means next to nothing," said Raul Pomares, a 56-year-old gardener waiting for a taxi in the capital.

"It's a symbolic gesture that won't have any real impact on the economy for ordinary Cubans," he added.

Moscow said Monday it was "pleased" that the tanker had reached Cuban waters.

"Russia considers it its duty to step up and provide necessary assistance to our Cuban friends," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Peskov said Moscow and Washington had been in touch over the shipment.

"We don't mind having somebody get a boatload, because they need -- they have to survive," Trump said on Sunday.

"I told them, if a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem with that. Whether it's Russia or not," he said.

But he predicted that the oil delivery would have no impact as he renewed his threats against the Cuban government.

"Cuba's finished, they have a bad regime, they have very bad and corrupt leadership, and whether or not they get a boat of oil it's not going to matter," Trump said.

Cuba lost its main regional ally and oil supplier in January when US forces captured Venezuela's socialist leader Nicolas Maduro.

Trump subsequently threatened to impose tariffs on any country sending oil to Cuba and has mused about "taking" the island of 9.6 million people.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose country last sent crude to Cuba in January, said Monday that there are talks with private companies about buying oil from Mexico's state-owned energy company to sell it to private entities in Cuba.

Washington slightly eased the blockade last month to allow oil sales to Cuba's small private sector.

- Diesel for buses or power? -

The Anatoly Kolodkin was just north of central Cuba on Monday and is estimated to arrive at the western port of Matanzas by Tuesday morning, according to shipping tracker MarineTraffic.

It would take about 15-20 days to process the oil and another 5-10 days to deliver its refined products, according to Jorge Pinon, an expert on Cuba's energy sector at the University of Texas at Austin.

The Russian shipment could be converted into 250,000 barrels of diesel, enough to cover the country's demand for around 12.5 days, Pinon told AFP.

The government would have to decide whether to use the fuel for backup power generators or for buses, tractors and trains needed to keep the economy going for two weeks, he added.

"This little diesel that they have, which is not a lot, where do they prioritize it?" Pinon said.

The oil would likely not be used for Cuba's aging thermoelectric power plants, which rely on the country's own crude production.

Cubans have endured regular outages as the power plants struggle to meet demand, with seven nationwide blackouts since 2024, including two this month.

The blackouts as well as persistent shortages of food, medicine and other basics, have fueled public frustration and some rare protests.

Orlando Ocana, a 76-year-old retiree, said the Russian shipment was a "Band-Aid."

"It's a relief, but it's not the solution," he said. "The real solution to our problems is building new thermoelectric power plants."

lt/mlm

The US-Israel strikes against Iran have triggered a series of retaliations and military escalation in the Middle East that have sent shockwaves through global financial markets.

The conflict, now more than a month old, has disrupted trade and energy markets, with stocks around the globe facing diverging effects based on how exposed they are -- or how much they benefit from -- the chaos.

Here are some of the winners and losers from the conflict so far.

- Attracting investors: Oil and gas -

Iran has imposed a virtual blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global oil and gas supplies pass, causing energy prices to skyrocket.

The price shock has also lifted the valuations of major energy producers.

These producers' profit margins have increased because as oil prices climb, the costs of extraction has remained relatively steady, said Jose Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers.

As a result, investors have poured money into companies that look set to profit from a sustained high-price environment.

"They see the conflict continuing for a while," Torres said. "That means oil prices are going to be structurally higher for the next year or two."

In the European markets, BP led the surge with a gain of 22.3 percent in the one-month period from February 27 -- the last trading day before strikes were launched -- to March 27.

TotalEnergies rose 16.7 percent and Shell climbed 13.3 percent in the same period.

- Pulling back: Defense sector -

Global conflict is usually a boon to defense contractors, and overall, 2026 has seen large gains for weapons makers.

On a shorter timescale, several major defense companies have seen their stock prices slip since the Iran war began, as the market grapples with potential supply chain bottlenecks.

Though munitions are being deployed at a rapid pace, due to long lead-in times for procurement and production, there is a lag until any increased demand can be met.

Investors "don't see a lot of new technology being produced," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. "We are in a sense still using up a lot of residual bombs"

German company Rheinmetall saw its shares tumble 17 percent between February 27 and March 27, while Thales dropped 6.7 percent and RTX -- formerly Raytheon Technologies -- fell 6.4 percent.

- Facing headwinds: Aviation -

The airline industry has emerged as one of the hardest-hit sectors, as the war forces mass flight cancellations and significant rerouting around contested airspace.

Compounding the operational difficulties is the surge in jet fuel prices, which has squeezed profit margins across the board.

The increased cost of fuel is the top concern, but far from the only one, said Stovall.

"Close behind is consumer confidence that is being affected by higher prices at the pump for their automobiles, higher prices when attempting to book summertime travel," he told AFP.

Stovall also pointed to the long lines for security checks at US airports, and heightened travel safety concerns, as reasons that many people are cutting down on nonessential travel.

Lufthansa experienced a sharp decline of 19 percent, while International Airlines Group (IAG, which includes British Airways and Iberia) saw its shares fall 15.9 percent. 

Low-cost carrier Ryanair was also down 10.2 percent.

- Systemic pressure: Financial sector -

Banking and financial services have also faced downward pressure as the conflict heightens global economic uncertainty, and the effects of rising fuel prices filter through the economy at all levels.

Torres, of Interactive Brokers, noted a pattern in some countries lowering interest rates despite the jump in oil prices.

"I think folks are increasingly worried about an economic slowdown, and they're pricing in now more of the demand destruction effects of higher crude oil prices, as well as how higher interest rates make private credit situations worse," he said.

A recent boom in private credit lending, where non-bank institutions like private equity firms make loans to companies, has sparked concerns that growing rates of default on these loans would have knock-on effects across the economy.

HSBC, which maintains significant exposure to global trade routes and emerging markets, saw its stock price decline by 13.9 percent.

US banks JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America all saw share prices fall a few percentage points compared to the start of the war, as investors brace for a period of lower lending activity and increased credit risk.

cf/aha/bgs

Congestion at US airports is expected to ease this week after President Donald Trump ordered security officers be paid despite a partial government shutdown.

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired on February 14 because of a budget standoff in Congress over controversial immigration enforcement operations carried out by its component agencies.

Since then, thousands of federal employees have been placed on unpaid leave, while those deemed essential are working without pay.

Air travel had been hard-hit, with passengers waiting hours at checkpoints due to high rates of absenteeism and resignations at the Transportation Security Agency (TSA).

Trump on Friday signed an executive order to ensure TSA agents get paid, skirting Congress and its power of the purse. On Monday, the union that represents federal workers said pay had started flowing.

"They haven't received all their back pay, but they have started seeing their payments," said Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council 100

The DHS funding lapse entered its 45th day on Monday, a record in the United States, although government shutdowns typically impact broader segments of the federal workforce. 

The shutdown looks set to drag on: members of Congress began a two-week vacation after failing to end the partial shutdown on Friday.

In the Senate, lawmakers from both parties approved funding for all DHS agencies except Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). 

Republicans in the House of Representatives rejected the Senate text, reaffirming their support for ICE and CBP and passing a bill that would fund the entire DHS for 60 days, allowing time for continued negotiations with the Democrats.

rle/ksb/dw