Germany’s defense minister on Thursday announced a plan to streamline and reorganize the country’s military command as part of efforts to make the armed forces of NATO’s most populous European member “war-capable.” Chancellor Olaf Scholz set in motion a big increase in military spending shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, which he described as a “turning …

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced a tentative timeline to open a limited access channel that would restore safe navigation in and out of the Port of Baltimore after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, blocking the vital waterway. The USACE said it plans to open a 280-foot-wide and 35-foot-deep channel by the end of April. The channel …

Finland will extend the closure of its border crossing points with Russia beyond the current April 14 deadline “until further notice” due to a high risk of organized migration orchestrated by Moscow, the Finnish government said on Thursday. The Finnish Interior Ministry said in a statement that the Nordic country’s national security and public order would come under serious threat …

The Biden administration finalized energy efficiency regulations targeting distribution transformers, which are vital for managing the flow of electricity from power stations to consumers. In an announcement Thursday morning, the Department of Energy said the regulations would help accelerate the development of green energy nationwide and are part of the Biden administration’s “commitment to tackling the climate crisis.” Overall, the …

A Georgia judge has denied former President Donald Trump’s motion to dismiss his 2020 election interference indictment on the grounds of First Amendment protection. “After considering the extensive briefing, the argument of counsel, and the indictment, the Court finds these vital constitutional protections do not reach the actions and statements alleged by the State. Nor do the statutes themselves facially …

Squatting laws have become a frequent target of exploitation by savvy criminals who fraudulently move into vacant homes across the nation. Experts warn that the problem could be compounded by the ongoing immigration crisis, with migrants catching wind of the laws and taking advantage of them. “I have thought about invading a house in the United States,” migrant Leonel Moreno …

Markus Hinterhäuser has been given a third five-year term as artistic director of the Salzburg Festival, extending his tenure in one of Europe’s most influential cultural roles to the longest since Herbert von Karajan’s reign from 1956-89. JAY-Z’S ‘MADE IN AMERICA’ FESTIVAL CANCELLED FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW The festival said Thursday that its board of directors agreed to …

As the Justice Department’s lawsuit against the state of Texas over the constitutionality of its S.B. 4 law that allows Public Safety officers to detain and deport illegal migrants was heard in court Tuesday, two of the state’s border-district congressmen appeared to have clashing opinions on the Lone Star State’s authority on Fox News. The Biden administration faced off Wednesday …

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Three activists of Viasna, the main human rights group in harshly repressive Belarus, have been arrested and charged with participating in an extremist organization, state television reported Thursday. The arrests were the latest in a long campaign by authorities to stifle opposition and independent media in the country, which has been under the authoritarian rule of …

Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard suffered a broken collarbone and several broken ribs after being involved in a “nasty crash” during Stage 4 of the Itzulia Basque Country in Spain, his team confirmed on social media Thursday. Several other riders were also badly injured. This view shows the cyclists during Stage 4 of the 63rd Itzulia Basque Country on April 4, …