Finnish court convicts Russian man for war crimes in Ukraine
Finnish court sentences Russian fighter to life imprisonment for war crimes against Ukrainian soldiers in 2014. A Russian national has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Finland for war crimes committed in Ukraine. The district court of Finland’s capital, Helsinki, ruled on Friday that Voislav Torden, then a commander of the far-right Russian nationalist paramilitary group Rusich, was involved in four different war crimes against Ukrainian soldiers during battles in eastern Ukraine in 2014. A fifth charge was dismissed. Torden was arrested in the summer of 2023 in Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre (832-mile) border with Russia. The case involves an armed attack on soldiers of a Ukrainian battalion in the Luhansk region. According to the court, Torden was involved in the killing of a soldier, among other things. He also reportedly took degrading photos of the deceased, which he later disseminated. Ukraine hails ‘key milestone’ The 38-year-old defendant denied the allegations in court, the Finnish broadcaster Yle reported. His lawyer, Heikki Lampela, told Finnish media that Torden was surprised by the ruling and would appeal it. Advertisement This is the first case in which a Finnish court has convicted someone for war crimes in Ukraine, Yle reported. The office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general hailed the court’s decision as “a key milestone in holding perpetrators of grave violations of international humanitarian law accountable.” “Ukraine remains committed to working with partners worldwide to ensure there is no impunity for war criminals,” it said in a statement posted on social media. Russia slammed the verdict and called the case against its citizen “shameful” and politically motivated. “The verdict of the Finnish judiciary provokes nothing but deep outrage and indignation. The bias of Helsinki district court, which gave an openly politicised sentence to the Russian citizen, is obvious,” the Russian embassy in Finland said in a statement. Adblock test (Why?)
Will Israel be held accountable for genocidal acts in Gaza?
UN report finds systemic sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians. A United Nations investigation concludes Israel has carried out genocidal acts by destroying Gaza’s main fertility clinic and maternity hospitals. Israel has rejected the report, which also alleges sexual violence. What are the implications? And will there be accountability? Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault Guests: Sari Bashi – programme director at Human Rights Watch Muhammad Dahleh – human rights lawyer Arwa Damon – founder of the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance Adblock test (Why?)
Shutdown averted after Schumer caves and backs Trump spending bill
A government shutdown was averted just hours before the Friday 11:59 p.m. deadline after enough Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., helped Republicans defeat the filibuster. Senators voted 54-46 to pass the stopgap spending bill, which only needed 51 votes to be approved. Nearly all Republicans backed the measure, with only Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., opposing. All Democrats opposed it, with the exception of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with the Democrats, also voted to pass the bill. It now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for a signature. The Senate earlier took a key procedural vote on a stopgap spending bill, which needed to meet a 60-vote threshold to move forward, also known as the legislative filibuster. CHUCK SCHUMER WILL VOTE TO KEEP GOVERNMENT OPEN: ‘FOR DONALD TRUMP, A SHUTDOWN WOULD BE A GIFT’ House Republicans passed the short-term bill, called a continuing resolution, earlier in the week. The bill will keep spending levels the same as fiscal year (FY) 2024 until Oct. 1. If a spending bill was not passed by the Friday deadline, the government would enter into a partial shutdown. During a partial government shutdown, federal agencies and non-essential services would be halted. However, government functions deemed “essential” would continue. National security protocols, such as border patrol, law enforcement and disaster response, stay active during shutdowns, for example. The Friday evening vote to pass the six-month CR came after a critical procedural vote earlier in the afternoon. A handful of Senate Democrats provided the Republican majority with the necessary votes to overcome the filibuster and move forward with the stopgap spending bill. DEM HEARD SCREAMING AT COLLEAGUES DESPITE SCHUMER’S UNITY CLAIM AS SHUTDOWN LOOMS Deep divisions emerged within the Democratic Party over the past couple of days, with even House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., refusing to answer questions about whether he had confidence in Schumer. In one of several Senate caucus meetings, a senator yelled loud enough that it was heard outside of heavy, thick wooden doors. The voice was identified by the press as belonging to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., but her office would not confirm. SENATE REPUBLICANS COIN ‘SCHUMER SHUTDOWN’ AHEAD OF CRITICAL VOTE ON TRUMP SPENDING BILL Prior to its passage, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., criticized his fellow Democrats for their planned “no” votes that risked a government shutdown. “It wasn’t that long ago before we were lecturing that you can never shut the government down. So, that’s kind of inconsistent,” he told reporters on Thursday. CANADA EXPLOITING ‘LOOPHOLE’ HURTING US DAIRY FARMERS AMID TRUMP TARIFFS, SENATORS SAY Ahead of the final vote, 10 Democrats joined nearly all Republicans to overcome the legislative filibuster. Those senators were Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. The senators managed to beat the 60-vote threshold, with an ultimate margin of 62-38.
FBI investigating rise in swatting incidents after several conservatives targeted, Kash Patel says
FBI Director Kash Patel on Friday revealed that the agency is investigating a recent spike in swatting incidents after several conservative media figures said they were targeted. “I want to address the alarming rise in ‘Swatting’ incidents targeting media figures,” Patel wrote Friday morning on his social media. “The FBI is aware of this dangerous trend, and my team and I are already taking action to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.” The director stressed, “This isn’t about politics—weaponizing law enforcement against ANY American is not only morally reprehensible but also endangers lives, including those of our officers.” Swatting is when a person attempts to send armed law enforcement to another person’s house over a fake incident, which has led to deadly consequences in the past. TRUMP CABINET NOMINEES, APPOINTEES TARGETED WITH ‘VIOLENT, UNAMERICAN THREATS’ “That will not be tolerated,” Patel continued. “We are fully committed to working with local law enforcement to crack down on these crimes.” He added that there would be more updates to come. Conservative podcaster Nick Sortor said Thursday on X that both his father and sister were swatted that same day. “A dozen cops attempted to kick my dad’s door in at gunpoint,” he wrote. “This is literal f—ing terrorism. And the FBI should treat it as such. Before calling in the swat, this dumbs— sent my sister an email calling me a Nazi, of course. So the motive is clear.” Sortor said the person who called the police on his father claimed he was killing his “entire family, requiring them to intervene with deadly force.” “This is nothing short of attempted murder. They wanted the police to kill my father,” he added. FEDS CHARGE 2 EUROPEANS WITH ‘SWATTING’ PLOT TARGETING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS Conservative host Shawn Farash wrote on his X account that he and his wife were swatted Thursday night. “We are totally safe,” he assured his followers. “Thank you to everyone who checked in. We are going to do whatever is necessary to find out who is behind these coordinated attacks and hold them accountable to the fullest extent.” An apparent swatting call at Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s home in December turned deadly following a car accident with police. Greene at the time said she had been swatted at least eight times before the fake bomb threat. In January, lawmakers introduced a bipartisan and bicameral bill to impose “strict penalties” for people who make swatting calls, including up to 20 years in prison if someone is seriously injured or killed in an incident. “Having spent over 40 years in law enforcement, I’ve seen firsthand how swatting is a reckless and dangerous action that not only puts innocent lives at risk but wastes critical resources,” Rep. Mike Ezell, R-Miss., said in a statement in January when introducing the bill in the House. “Local and state law enforcement agencies are forced to divert their time, energy, and taxpayer dollars to respond to these false calls, taking them away from real emergencies. As someone who has been on the front lines, I understand the toll this takes on our officers and communities. That’s why I am proud to help introduce the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act — a vital step in protecting both our law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.” Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, wrote on Friday that he was “proud” to cosponsor the bill. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Multiple conservative influencers and pundits have had their homes swatted in the past several days,” he wrote. “This is an extremely dangerous form of political terrorism. It’s liable to get somebody killed, and it must end now.”
Fox News Politics Newsletter: ‘FBI’s “Gotcha” Scheme’
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… –Education Department launches widespread civil rights probe: A look at what the agency does as Trump eyes shutdown -50 House Dems railed for ‘political puppet show’ after making identical social media posts –Migrant gangs on notice after string of home burglaries EXCLUSIVE: The Biden White House turned over government cellphones belonging to President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence to the FBI in May 2022 as part of a bureau probe into the aftermath of the 2020 election, tying Trump to that investigation without sufficient predication, Fox News Digital has learned. The FBI did not need a warrant to physically obtain the government phones from the Biden White House, but after acquiring the devices agents began drafting a search warrant to extract the phones’ data, sources familiar with the investigation told Fox News Digital. “The Biden White House played right along with the FBI’s ‘gotcha’ scheme against Trump,” a source familiar with the investigation told Fox News Digital. “Biden’s Office of White House Counsel, under the leadership of Dana Remus and Jonathan Su, gave its blessing and accommodation for the FBI to physically obtain Trump and Pence’s phones in early May 2022. Weeks later, the FBI began drafting a search warrant to extract the phones’ data.” …Read more TAKEN FOR A SPIN: Biden also paraded electric vehicles at the White House, when he drove a Jeep Wrangler in 2021 ‘VACCINE HESITANCY’: Millions spent by Biden on COVID ‘vaccine hesitancy’ campaign slashed by Trump NIH: report SPLIT ON TRUMP: Americans split over the job Trump and Musk are doing: poll ‘DEPARTMENT OF INJUSTICE’: Trump accuses Biden’s DOJ of trying to turn U.S. into ‘corrupt communist’ country ‘BROKE THE DEADLOCK’: ‘We have never been this close to peace’ since Russia invaded Ukraine, Leavitt tells reporters ‘REALLY STAGGERING’: Trump praised for getting NATO allies to bolster defense spending ‘PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE’: Venezuela agrees to resume deportation flights SENATE GRILLING: Dr. Oz faces Senate grilling on Capitol Hill in bid to run Centers for Medicare and Medicaid BAD EVIDENCE: Anna Paulina Luna escalates DOJ standoff over Epstein docs, unveils SHRED Act ‘WELLNESS GRIFTING’: Oz bats back Dem attempts to paint him as ‘snake oil’ salesman KEY WITNESS: Key witness in American college student’s disappearance tells police how they met, what happened on beach ‘ENDS NOW’: Tulsi Gabbard lists ‘recent examples of unauthorized leaks’ from intelligence community, announces crackdown ‘RADICALS’: Vance booed at Kennedy Center concert ‘BROKEN BUSINESS MODEL’: USPS signs agreement with DOGE after moving to cut 10,000 workers: ‘Broken business model’ Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Trump pledges to make US capital ‘crime-free’ and the ‘talk of the world’
President Donald Trump renewed his vow to clean up the city of Washington, D.C., Friday while speaking at the Department of Justice, saying, “We’re going to have a crime-free capital.” “We’re cleaning up our city. We’re cleaning up this great capital,” the president said. “And we’re not going to have crime, and we’re not going to stand for crime.” He noted that, since returning to the White House, he has had to order the roadways cleaned of tents and graffiti when heads of state visit. TRUMP BLASTS BIDEN’S DOJ: THEY TRIED TO TURN US INTO A ‘CORRUPT COMMUNIST’ THIRD WORLD COUNTRY “When Prime Minister Modi of India, when the president of France and all of these people, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, they all came to see me over the last week and a half. And, when they come in, I had the route run,” he said. “I didn’t want to have them see tents. I didn’t want to have them see graffiti. I didn’t want to have them see broken barriers and potholes in the roads. “We want to have a capital that can be the talk of the world,” Trump added. “We’re going to do that for the city.” Trump commended D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, for cooperating with his administration. DANCING TRANSGENDER HECKLERS SHUT DOWN PARENTS’ EVENT AT BLUE STATE’S CAPITOL: ‘SAD AND UNFORTUNATE’ Bowser recently announced the removal of a “Black Lives Matter” street mural that was installed in front of the White House in 2020. “We’re working with the administration, and if the administration can’t do the job, we’re going to have to take it back and run it through the federal government,” said Trump. “But we hope the administration’s going to be able. So far, so good. So far, they’ve been doing very well. The mayor has been doing a good job.” “We’re going to have a crime-free capital,” he added. “When people come here, they’re not going to be mugged or shot or raped. They’re going to have a crime-free capital again. It’s going to be cleaner and better and safer than it ever was. And it’s not going to take us too long.”
Paxton says trans Texans can’t use court orders to change sex on driver’s licenses, birth certificates
Per the attorney general’s nonbinding opinion, state agencies should change gender markers on government documents back to a person’s sex assigned at birth.
AOC, Sanders tell supporters to mask up for West Coast town halls
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., are taking the “Fighting Oligarchy” rallies out West next week – and advising supporters to mask up to participate. Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, Fox News Digital can confirm that the RSVP for the events in Denver and Las Vegas includes guidance that “masks are advised for all attendees of this event.” A post shared by conservative podcaster Stephen L. Miller on Friday about the Denver event had many wondering why masks would be advised for an outdoor event in 2025. Sanders did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s inquiry about the mask guidance. DEM LEADER SWINGS THROUGH GOP-HELD DISTRICTS AFTER ‘CLOWN SHOW PROTESTS’ HALTED TOWN HALLS “Sent from a friend. Bernie’s speaking tour is advising everyone in attendance to wear masks. This is an outdoor event,” the X post said, accompanied by a screenshot of the RSVP. ‘HE CANNOT BUY AN ELECTION HERE IN WISCONSIN’: SANDERS SLAMS MUSK IN STATE TRUMP WON BY LESS THAN 1% “Still trying the Covid panic politics,” the top comment said. “Was this from the year 2020?” a content creator asked. But another reply countered: “They don’t want the paid attendees found out.” The reactions to the post are split, with many people online dumbfounded by the need for masks exactly five years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced shutdowns and social distancing. Others speculated that the masks are a way to protect attendees’ identities. Masks are a common practice to protect protesters’ identities at large demonstrations, like the pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University this past year. However, Sanders’ “Fighting Oligarchy” events are not protests. Events in the Blue Wall states of Michigan and Wisconsin last weekend operated like a traditional campaign rally, with thousands of supporters lining up to earn a spot inside to hear the headline speaker. Sanders announced the West Coast leg of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with Ocasio-Cortez in a social media video on Friday. The progressives will make stops in Nevada, Arizona and Colorado “to hold town meetings with working people who are profoundly disgusted with what is going on in Washington, D.C.” “Nevada, Colorado, Arizona: You deserve public servants who show up for you. The time is now to protect the public good, advance healthcare and living wages for all, and fight against corruption. See you next week,” Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the political campaign committee tasked with electing more Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives, advised against town halls following a series of protest disruptions fueled by Democrats’ discontent with President Donald Trump’s second term. Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., began his own slew of town hall events in Republican-held congressional districts on Friday, saying if a Republican representative refused to meet with their constituents, then he would “lend a megaphone” to them. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced on Friday a revised organized effort alongside the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC) and Democrat state parties to host town halls in Republican-held districts. “Republicans in Congress know they sold out their voters by backing the Trump-Musk agenda – and now they’re terrified to be in the same room as the people who sent them to Washington,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement on Friday. “Instead of facing their constituents, they’re running scared and hiding from the people they were elected to represent. If they won’t talk to their own voters, then Democrats will. That’s why we’ll be hosting People’s Town Halls in all 50 states across the country, starting now with vulnerable GOP-held target districts. Working families deserve to have their voices heard, even if Republicans want to ignore them,” Martin added. The NRCC said the protests that shut down Republicans’ town hall meetings were “manufactured productions.” Fox News Digital reported last month about the coordinated effort by progressive groups protesting the Department of Government Efficiency. MEET THE FAR-LEFT GROUPS FUNDING ANTI-DOGE PROTESTS AT GOP OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY MoveOn.org, which has accepted millions of dollars from billionaire George Soros and his Open Society Policy Center, announced in a press release last month that it was mobilizing resources as part of a “Congress Works for Us, Not Musk” initiative “aimed at pressuring lawmakers to fight back against the Trump-Musk agenda” at Republican town halls and offices. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Trump called the protesters who shut down Republican town halls “professionals” and “paid troublemakers.” “Paid ‘troublemakers’ are attending Republican Town Hall Meetings. It is all part of the game for the Democrats, but just like our big LANDSLIDE ELECTION, it’s not going to work for them!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. In addition to the mask guidance, the flier for next Friday’s event with Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez includes typical safety precautions for large public events, including a request for anyone not feeling well to stay home. “Please note: no bags, signs, or firearms are allowed. Masks are advised for all attendees of this event. Anyone experiencing a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19 is asked to stay home and not attend,” it says on the RSVP. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ended their travel mask mandate on April 18, 2022. According to the CDC’s website, masks are still “recommended in indoor public transportation settings” and “people may choose to mask at any time.” The website advises people who are at medium to high risk of getting very sick to wear a mask or “consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed.” While the CDC has maintained that masking can reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, other studies since the pandemic have brought into question the efficacy of wearing a mask.
New Canadian PM blasts Trump’s 51st state idea: ‘Crazy’
Newly minted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has defiantly rejected any notion that Canada will become America’s 51st state amid tensions about an all-out trade war between the neighboring nations. Carney, speaking to reporters after being sworn into office on Friday, shot down the bold and controversial idea touted by President Donald Trump, calling the idea “crazy.” “We will never, ever in any way, shape or form, be part of the United States,” Carney said. He said that Canada is sovereign with its own values and traditions and that Trump needs to show the nation more respect. Asked about Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told reporters that Trump’s position is that Canada would be better off joining the United States, Carney said Rubio’s point was crazy. “It’s crazy,” Carney said. “His point is crazy. That’s it.” Trump has said that annexing Canada would prevent the country from being on the receiving end of punishing trade tariffs. Trump claims the U.S. has subsidized Canada to the tune of $200 billion annually and the U.S. began imposing a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico last week. Two days later Trump suspended the 25% tariffs on most goods from Canada and Mexico covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) for one month. Trump has put 25% tariffs on Canada’s steel and aluminum and is threatening sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products on April 2. Trump has long said Canada — as well as Mexico — has also failed to do enough to prevent the flow of illegal migrants and drugs, particularly fentanyl into the U.S. Carney said he has no immediate plans to meet with President Trump but looks forward to doing so. He also addressed Trump’s concerns with Canada. “We respect President Trump,” Carney said. “President Trump has put some very important issues at the top of his agenda. To understand his agenda is understand the importance of addressing the scourge of fentanyl, which is a challenge here in Canada as well as the United States. “And I would say that the measures that have been put in place in recent weeks in Canada and Mexico, also the United States, means that we are making tremendous progress.” Carney noted he understands the importance President Trump places on American workers and American jobs. “And we want him and his administration to understand the importance we put on Canadian workers and Canadian job,” Carney said. “And we will look for avenues to work together so that both objectives are met in terms of our goals, our great economies, just as we are doing. Trump brought up the merger idea to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in person when the pair met at Mar-a-Lago in late November, per Fox News sources. Trump has also suggested annexing Greenland. Carney, a former Goldman Sachs executive, worked for 13 years in London, Tokyo, New York and Toronto, before being appointed deputy governor of the Bank of Canada in 2003. Carney ran the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013 and the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020. He has never been elected to public office by the Canadian electorate and does not have a seat in parliament. He won the Liberal leadership last week with 86% of the vote after Trudeau stood down.
Spending bill to avert shutdown successfully beats filibuster with hours until deadline
Senators voted to advance the House-passed stopgap spending bill on Friday as the deadline for a government shutdown inches closer. The House-passed short-term spending bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), would keep spending levels the same as fiscal year (FY) 2024 until Oct. 1. However, if a spending bill is not passed by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, the government will enter into a partial shutdown. Democrats in the Senate were embroiled in passionate disagreement this week over what to do when the measure eventually came for the key procedural vote. In order to reach the 60-vote threshold, Republicans needed some Democratic support, as the GOP majority is only 53 seats and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., planned to vote against it. CHUCK SCHUMER WILL VOTE TO KEEP GOVERNMENT OPEN: ‘FOR DONALD TRUMP, A SHUTDOWN WOULD BE A GIFT’ Amid tense caucus meetings leading up to the vote, Democrats were tight-lipped, unwilling to reveal details about the discussions. During one meeting on Thursday, a senator yelled so loudly that the press could hear through thick, heavy wooden meeting room doors. The voice was identified by the press as that of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., but her office would not confirm. Several Democratic senators came out against the stopgap bill ahead of the procedural hurdle, sharing that they wouldn’t vote to advance it or vote for its passage. However, they faced criticism from staunch government shutdown opponent Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who joked about their “spicy” social media videos about voting no. DEM HEARD SCREAMING AT COLLEAGUES DESPITE SCHUMER’S UNITY CLAIM AS SHUTDOWN LOOMS “It wasn’t that long ago before we were lecturing that you can never shut the government down. So, that’s kind of inconsistent,” he told reporters on Thursday. “We can all agree that it’s not a great CR, but that’s where we are, and that’s the choice,” he emphasized. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had initially claimed on Wednesday that his caucus was unified, and pushed for an alternative CR that would last only a month. But the Republicans did not budge on the House-passed bill that lasts the rest of the fiscal year. SENATE REPUBLICANS COIN ‘SCHUMER SHUTDOWN’ AHEAD OF CRITICAL VOTE ON TRUMP SPENDING BILL By Thursday night, Schumer revealed he would vote to advance and pass the stopgap bill, rather than providing President Donald Trump and Elon Musk with the “gift” of a government shutdown. This was met with significant frustration from Democrats across the country and division about what party leaders should do in such circumstances. CANADA EXPLOITING ‘LOOPHOLE’ HURTING US DAIRY FARMERS AMID TRUMP TARIFFS, SENATORS SAY House Democratic leaders released a late-night statement reiterating their opposition to the CR on Thursday, and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., shared her own on Friday, similarly slamming the bill. The former speaker called on Democratic senators to “listen to the women” and move forward with “a four-week funding extension to keep government open and negotiate a bipartisan agreement.”