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President Donald Trump announced on Fox Business that he will dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell should the governor refuse to leave his post when his term concludes on May 15. The statement, made during an interview with Maria Bartiromo, underscored the president’s willingness to act, saying he “has wanted to fire him, but I hate to be controversial… he will be fired.” Legal scholars and policy analysts quickly cautioned that the president’s threat is not grounded in statutory authority. Skanda Amarnath, executive director of the think‑tank Employ America, told Al Jazeera that the administration is already losing a court battle over an attempt to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook and would likely face the same outcome if it pursued Powell’s removal. The controversy emerges as the Senate Banking Committee prepares to consider Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nominee to succeed Powell. Warsh’s hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday, but his confirmation remains uncertain. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has pledged to block the nomination until the ongoing federal criminal probe into Powell’s conduct concludes. If the Senate fails to confirm a new chair, Powell would remain at the helm until a successor is appointed, extending the period of tension between the White House and the central bank. Trump also referenced a separate investigation into a costly Fed building renovation, noting that U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has not indicated any change in the probe’s direction. However, a federal prosecutor later reported that the investigation uncovered no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Critics argue that Trump’s broader agenda seeks to increase political control over the Fed’s seven‑member board, aiming to install members who share his economic outlook. Currently, the president has appointed three board members, and one seat—held by Governor Stephen Miran—has technically expired, which would need to be vacated for Warsh to join. Powell has framed the investigation as a pretext to undermine the Fed’s independence in setting monetary policy, a charge that resonates with concerns about preserving the central bank’s autonomy amid political pressure. Overall, the standoff highlights a clash between executive ambition and the institutional safeguards designed to keep monetary policy decisions insulated from short‑term political influence.

Argentina’s justice system has reopened the case surrounding the death of football icon Diego Maradona, with prosecutors branding his medical team as “a bunch of amateurs” who missed a critical window to save him.The trial of seven healthcare professionals—doctors, psychologists and nurses—resumed on Tuesday in San Isidro, a suburb of Buenos Aires, after the original proceedings were annulled when a presiding judge was found to have participated in a documentary about the case.Maradona, who died in November 2020 at age 60 while recuperating from surgery for a brain clot, is alleged to have suffered from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema two weeks post‑operation. Prosecutor Patricio Ferrari asserted that the patient began to deteriorate 12 hours before his official death and that a timely transfer to a clinic could have prevented the fatal outcome.According to the indictment, the defendants’ decision to keep Maradona at home rather than in a hospital, coupled with a series of “omissions” described as “cruel,” constitutes homicide with possible intent. If convicted, each could face prison terms ranging from eight to 25 years.The new proceedings, expected to conclude by July at the earliest, will hear testimony from roughly 120 witnesses. Among the accused, former team doctor Leopoldo Luque and other staff members will be scrutinized for their role in the athlete’s care.Maradona’s family—daughters Dalma, Gianinna and Jana, and former partner Veronica Ojeda—attended the hearing, urging the courts to deliver “justice for Diego” and allow the legend to “rest in peace.” Outside, about 50 supporters waved Argentine flags and signs demanding accountability for the beloved “D10s.”Defense counsel Vadim Mischanchuk argued that the former star’s death resulted from a “progressive decline in his health” rather than medical malpractice, emphasizing that the condition was natural and unavoidable.Legal analyst Fernando Burlando, representing the Maradona family, highlighted the absence of a stethoscope on the legend’s chest during the critical two‑week period, using the instrument as a stark symbol of alleged negligence.The case revives national grief that first erupted when Maradona’s body lay in state at the presidential palace, drawing tens of thousands of mourners amid the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez has urged the United States to remove the sanctions that have severely impacted the country's economy. Her comments come after the US Treasury Department announced new licenses allowing transactions with certain Venezuelan banks and individuals. However, Rodriguez argues that these measures are insufficient to help Venezuela overcome its economic crisis. She believes that a complete removal of sanctions is necessary to provide legal certainty to investors and foster sustained economic growth. “We reiterate the need to advance towards a Venezuela free of sanctions, as a means of providing institutional legal certainty to investors coming to our country – a setting where they are guaranteed sustained investment over time and a forward-looking perspective,” Rodriguez stated on social media. The Venezuelan government has been facing protests from workers demanding higher wages and better pensions, amid frustration over the country's sluggish economy. Rodriguez's administration has sought to cooperate with US President Donald Trump's demands, including opening Venezuela to foreign investment and loosening restrictions on oil exploration and mining. Since Maduro's removal, the US has moved to tighten relations with Venezuela, reopening its embassy in Caracas and gradually easing sanctions on certain sectors, including the oil industry. The US currently approves all Venezuelan oil sales abroad, with the proceeds placed in a US-controlled bank account. Rodriguez has pledged to address concerns over workers' wages on May 1, a day commonly associated with labor rights. She has also expressed interest in hearing from energy executives about potential projects in Venezuela and changes to regulation.

President Donald Trump announced on Fox Business that he will dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell if the central‑bank chief does not vacate the post by the statutory end of his term on May 15. “I’ll have to fire him, OK, if he’s not leaving on time,” Trump said, adding that he had previously held back the decision to avoid controversy. Powell, who has just over a month left in his tenure, has repeatedly been criticized by Trump for what the president calls a “bad job” and for refusing to lower interest rates despite Trump’s repeated demands since his return to the White House in January 2025. In January, Trump nominated former Fed governor Kevin Warsh to replace Powell. Warsh, known for his criticism of the Fed’s relatively high rates, is expected to align more closely with Trump’s push for rate cuts. His confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee is slated for April 21, but the outcome remains uncertain. Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a member of the banking committee, has signaled he will block Warsh’s nomination until the Department of Justice concludes its criminal investigation into alleged misconduct surrounding the Fed’s headquarters renovation in Washington, D.C. Tillis described the probe as “reaching the point of absurd,” yet insists the investigation must be resolved before moving forward. The probe appears active: prosecutors made an unannounced visit to the construction site this week, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, underscoring the seriousness of the inquiry. During the same interview, Trump dismissed the investigation’s relevance, claiming the project was “probably corrupt, but what it really is is incompetence,” and questioned whether a $25 million renovation could balloon to a $4 billion expense. Powell responded in January with a rare public rebuke, labeling the investigation a “pretext” aimed at pressuring the Fed to lower rates. He warned that political intimidation could jeopardize the Fed’s ability to set monetary policy based on economic evidence. The legal backdrop adds another layer of uncertainty. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on Trump’s authority to fire a Fed board member without cause—a question that resurfaced after the president’s attempted removal of Fed governor Lisa Cook last summer. Justices appeared skeptical of such unilateral action during oral arguments in January. With the Fed’s independence at stake, the coming weeks will determine whether Trump’s threat translates into action, whether Warsh can secure Senate confirmation, and how the renovation investigation will influence the broader debate over political interference in U.S. monetary policy.

A former Alabama defensive lineman, Luther Davis, who helped the Crimson Tide win the 2010 national championship, is preparing to plead guilty to a multi‑million‑dollar loan fraud that hinged on impersonating NFL athletes. According to a criminal information filing by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Davis and his associate CJ Evins obtained at least thirteen fraudulent loans totaling $19,845,000. The defendants chose to waive a grand‑jury indictment and will enter guilty pleas at a hearing scheduled for 27 April. The scheme targeted lenders that specialize in financing athletes, notably Aliya Sports and All Pro Capital Funding, with loan brokerage services provided by Sure Sports. Three of the loans are detailed in the filing: $4.025 million was secured for a fictitious company linked to Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku. $4.35 million was obtained for a sham entity tied to Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney. $3.3 million was borrowed for a fabricated venture associated with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Investigators say the duo created shell companies with names resembling the players’ initials, opened bank accounts, and fabricated email addresses and driver’s licenses. Davis then attended virtual loan closings in disguise—often wearing wigs, makeup, or a durag—to pose as the athletes and convince notaries to certify the fraudulent documents. One closing on 22 January 2024 for the Njoku loan involved Davis presenting a counterfeit Georgia driver’s license that displayed the player’s photo alongside a number belonging to an unrelated Savannah resident. Similar deceptions occurred for the McKinney and Penix loans, with forged Florida and Georgia licenses respectively. The fraud mirrors a separate case in which First Farmers Bank & Trust sued an insurer after a $5.265 million loan, also brokered by Sure Sports, was discovered to have been signed with a fake Njoku identity. While it is unclear whether that loan is part of the thirteen identified in Georgia, the modus operandi aligns closely. Both Davis and Evins face charges of aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, offenses that carry potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison. Their attorneys declined to comment on the pending pleas. Beyond the courtroom, the case underscores vulnerabilities in niche financing markets that cater to professional athletes, highlighting how forged identities and shell corporations can be leveraged to extract substantial capital from lenders.

A remarkable cactus species in eastern Brazil has evolved a unique method to attract bats for pollination. Coleocephalocereus goebelianus grows a fuzzy structure, known as a cephalium, near its flowers. This unusual body part acts as an acoustic beacon, focusing the high-pitched squeaks made by bats and helping them navigate towards the flower.Bats use echolocation to navigate and find objects in the dark by emitting high-frequency sounds, which are beyond human hearing. The cephalium's dense structure may also help reduce background noise, making the bats' echolocation clearer.The cactus's tall stature above surrounding plants amplifies its acoustics, making it easier for bats to locate the flower. This adaptation is crucial for the cactus's pollination, as it blooms at night and relies on bats as pollinators.Similar adaptations can be seen in carnivorous pitcher plants, which use curved dish-like openings to reflect bat calls and help them find the pitchers. In these cases, the bats roost inside the pitchers, and their dung fertilizes the plant.This unique evolutionary strategy highlights the fascinating ways in which plants have adapted to their environments to ensure pollination and survival.

Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor nominated by President Donald Trump to replace Jerome Powell, has filed ethics disclosures showing personal assets well above $100 million. If confirmed, he would become the wealthiest central‑bank leader in U.S. history. The 69‑page filing, released on Tuesday, lists two private‑fund investments each valued at over $50 million in the Juggernaut Fund LP, plus $10.2 million in consulting fees from the investment office of Wall Street titan Stanley Druckenmiller. Many holdings are described only in broad categories because “pre‑existing confidentiality agreements” prevent full disclosure; Warsh has pledged to divest these assets should his nomination be approved. Federal Reserve ethics rules, tightened in 2022, prohibit officials and their families from owning bank stocks, crypto‑related assets, and impose strict limits on buying and selling securities. The Fed’s own standards, set by the Federal Open Market Committee, are stricter than those governing other federal employees. Beyond the large private‑fund stakes, Warsh’s disclosures reveal a portfolio concentrated in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. Notable entries include the robotic‑coffee‑bar platform Cafe X, wearable‑tech firm Cionic, an Ethereum layer‑two project dubbed “Blast,” and a reversible male‑contraceptive solution called Contraline. Details for many of these positions are omitted, again citing confidentiality. The filing also enumerates assets held by Warsh’s spouse, Jane Lauder—a member of the Estee Lauder family with an estimated net worth of $1.9 billion. Her holdings feature municipal bonds listed simply as “over $1 million.” Liabilities appear modest in comparison: a 2015 mortgage of up to $5 million with JPMorgan Chase at a 2.75% rate, a revolving credit line of up to $5 million from PNC Bank at roughly 6%, and a $1.95 million capital commitment to THSDFS LLC, an interest Warsh has also pledged to divest. Ethics analyst Heather Jones of the Office of Government Ethics confirmed that Warsh’s divestiture promises would bring him into compliance with the Ethics in Government Act. Nonetheless, the breadth of undisclosed holdings is likely to dominate his upcoming confirmation hearing, scheduled for April 21. Political dynamics add further uncertainty. A key Republican senator has signaled intent to block Warsh’s confirmation until a Department of Justice investigation into Powell’s oversight of Fed‑headquarters renovations concludes. Although a federal judge recently dismissed two subpoenas targeting Powell—citing a perceived attempt to pressure him on interest‑rate policy—the Justice Department plans to appeal, potentially delaying any Senate vote. Powell has indicated he will remain “pro tem” if Warsh is not confirmed by the end of his term on May 15, and he could retain his governor seat until 2028 if he chooses.

A three‑judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a two‑to‑one decision on Tuesday that blocks District Judge James Boasberg from moving forward with contempt hearings against the Trump administration.The case stemmed from Boasberg’s attempt to determine whether officials violated his March 15, 2025 order to turn around two deportation flights while they were airborne. The flights had carried 137 Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador under the rarely used Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 statute granting presidents broad wartime powers.In the majority opinion, Judge Neomi Rao (a Trump appointee) wrote that Boasberg’s contempt inquiry was a “clear abuse of discretion,” noting that the district court’s order did not expressly forbid the transfer of the migrants into Salvadoran custody. She emphasized that criminal contempt applies only to violations of a “clear and specific” order.Judge Justin Walker, also appointed by Trump, joined Rao, while Judge J. Michelle Childs—a Biden appointee—dissented. The split reflects the broader partisan tension surrounding the case.Critics of the deportations argued that invoking the Alien Enemies Act represented presidential overreach and that the rapid operation denied the immigrants due process, including the ability to appeal. Some detainees were later released to Venezuela in a July 2025 prisoner exchange after spending months in El Salvador’s maximum‑security Centre for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT).Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the ruling on X, stating it should “finally end Judge Boasberg’s year‑long campaign against the hardworking Department attorneys doing their jobs fighting illegal immigration.”The decision underscores the judiciary’s role in checking executive immigration actions, especially when emergency court orders intersect with national‑security‑related statutes. It also signals that future attempts to pursue contempt for alleged violations of ambiguous orders may face heightened scrutiny.

Kevin Warsh, the former Federal Reserve governor chosen by Donald Trump to lead the central bank, has submitted financial disclosures indicating he holds assets worth well over $100m. This disclosure is a required step for his nomination to advance through the Senate.The document, filed with the US Office of Government Ethics, reveals that Warsh has significant investments, including two worth more than $50m each in the Juggernaut Fund LP and $10.2m in consulting fees from Stanley Druckenmiller's investment office. He has also pledged to divest certain assets if confirmed.Warsh's holdings include around two dozen investments in THSDFS LLC, some valued as high as $5m, as well as assets in artificial intelligence and crypto sectors. His spouse, Jane Lauder, whose family has interests in the Estée Lauder cosmetics company, also had holdings disclosed.The filing is a key step in Warsh's expected confirmation to succeed Jerome Powell as Fed chair, though the timing remains uncertain. A Senate banking committee hearing has yet to be scheduled, and Republican lawmakers have vowed to block his confirmation until a Department of Justice investigation into Powell is concluded.