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Who is Judge Amir Ali? The Biden-appointed federal judge at the center of Trump’s USAID battle

One of the newest federal judges in the U.S. has found himself squarely in the crosshairs of the Trump administration’s battle over foreign aid spending after the Supreme Court tasked him with determining how, and when, the government must pay nearly $2 billion owed to foreign aid groups and contractors.

Judge Amir H. Ali, a Biden appointee, has served on the court for less than four months and is among the 25 newest federal judges confirmed by the Senate to serve on a federal district court.

Despite his short tenure, Ali, a U.S. district judge in Washington, D.C., is already at the center of some of the most high-profile court cases to date, presiding most recently over the lawsuit seeking billions in unpaid invoices for USAID-funded projects. 

The case is the first significant case of President Donald Trump’s term to be heard by the Supreme Court – and Amir’s handling of it has brought renewed scrutiny from conservatives over his previous work as a litigator, including for progressive legal groups.

Far from being a wallflower, Ali has had a prolific and high-profile career as both a professor and litigator, including arguing civil rights cases before the Supreme Court, and serving as the director of Harvard Law’s Criminal Justice Appellate Clinic. His work has earned awards or recognition from groups such as the NAACP, the American Constitution Society – where he was a finalist for the David Carliner Public Interest Award – and Bloomberg, among others. 

Much of Ali’s work prior to his confirmation to the bench focused closely on police and prosecutorial misconduct and civil rights protections, some of which made headlines during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last year.

In 2017, Ali helped open the Washington, D.C., branch of the MacArthur Justice Center, where he represented dozens of plaintiffs, including before the Supreme Court, where he argued and won two separate civil rights cases. The MacArthur Justice Center was formed in 1985 to challenge the death penalty in Illinois, and it has since expanded to support reductions in over-incarceration and the elimination of racial disparities in the criminal justice system, among other reforms, with offices in four states and Washington, D.C. 

Ali’s first case, Garza v. Idaho, expanded the constitutional right to counsel for defendants under the Sixth Amendment. His second, Thompson v. Clark, made it slightly easier for individuals who claim they were wrongfully arrested to sue police for malicious prosecution. (Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee, authored the 6-3 majority opinion.)

He was later appointed executive director of the Washington, D.C., branch, a role he held through 2024, when he was appointed to the federal bench.

During his Senate confirmation hearing last February, Ali was grilled by Republicans over remarks made by his MacArthur Justice Center colleague, Cliff Johnson – who suggested during a podcast interview in 2020 that defunding the police is the first step in a ‘movement toward making police departments obsolete.’

Ali stressed in response that he did not share those views, and that the views were not endorsed by the MacArthur Justice Center. 

‘Let me be very clear about this,’ Ali said. ‘I have never advocated for taking away police funding. I would not take that position, and the MacArthur Justice Center has not taken that position.’

Now, as a judge, Ali has been tasked with presiding over some of the most consequential cases to come up during Trump’s second term. 

Last month, he sided with foreign aid groups and contractors who sued the Trump administration for roughly $1.9 billion owed for previously completed projects that were funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. 

Ali gave the Trump administration just two weeks to pay the outstanding funds, prompting Justice Department lawyers to file an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court. 

The Supreme Court ultimately rejected the Trump administration’s request to extend the freeze in 5-4 vote, remanding it back to D.C. federal court, and Ali, to hash out the specifics of what must be paid, and when – a role Ali stressed that he takes ‘very seriously.’

Plaintiffs sued over the Trump administration’s executive action earlier this year that froze nearly all foreign aid spending, changes made in the name of government ‘efficiency’ and eliminating waste, according to administration officials. 

President Donald Trump has stated plans to cut some 90% of USAID foreign aid contracts and to slash an additional $60 billion in foreign aid spending and at issue in the case is how quickly the Trump administration must pay the outstanding invoices from completed projects. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X Monday that roughly 83% of USAID programs are slated to be canceled following a six-week review process led by DOGE.

The canceled contracts, Rubio wrote, amount to ‘tens of billions of dollars’ that were being spent in ways he alleged ‘did not serve’ U.S. national interests. He added that the rest of the USAID programs and contracts will be transferred to the State Department to be managed. 

Most recently, Ali ordered the Trump administration Monday evening to pay by March 14 all owed funds to USAID contractors and other international groups for previously completed projects. Ali said the Trump administration’s withholding of the funds, which had already been appropriated by Congress, was likely ‘unlawful’ and a violation of the separation of powers doctrine under the Constitution.

It is unclear whether the Trump administration will move to challenge that ruling in court.

Last week, Ali moved expeditiously on the Supreme Court directive, ordering both parties back to court last week for an hours-long hearing to weigh plausible repayment options. He heard from both plaintiffs in the case, the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and the Global Health Council, who argued that the Trump administration ‘never took steps towards compliance’ with Ali’s order requiring the administration to unfreeze the federal funds to pay the $1.9 billion in owed project payments.

During the hearing, which stretched on for nearly five hours, Ali also focused heavily on other issues, including the government’s role in reviewing all foreign aid contracts and grants. 

Lawyers for the Trump administration told Ali they had already completed and made final decisions for these contracts. Stephen Wirth, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, objected to the administration’s ‘breakneck’ review of the contracts and grants, arguing that they ‘had one objective – to terminate as many contracts as possible.’

Lawyers were also pressed by Ali over whether the Trump administration can legally move to terminate projects whose funds are allocated and appropriated by Congress. This could eventually kick the issue back up to the Supreme Court.

At the end of the hearing, Ali ordered the government to pay at least a portion of the owed funds by Monday at 6 p.m. – taking what he described as a ‘concrete step’ forward in resolving some of the confusion surrounding the Trump administration’s freeze on most foreign spending. 

‘I think it’s reasonable to get the plaintiffs’ invoices paid by 6 p.m. on Monday,’ Ali said.  

It is unclear what payments the government has made since last week. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Vance pitches GOP rebels on DOGE, border in 11th-hour plea for unity against shutdown

Vice President JD Vance told House Republicans that putting a government funding bill up for a vote today was critical to President Donald Trump keeping the lights on for his border security goals and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Two lawmakers present at the closed-door meeting on Tuesday morning said DOGE and the border were part of Vance’s pitch to Republicans who were still undecided about the bill.

One lawmaker said Vance also signaled that future federal spending cuts could be on the table at a later date, a similar pitch House Freedom Caucus leaders have been making to fellow fiscal conservatives.

‘Vance basically said this is what we need to keep DOGE and border operations going,’ the lawmaker said. ‘And we will have much more flexibility for DOGE cuts once we’ve had more time to identify and quantify them.’

The House and Senate must pass a federal funding bill and send it to Trump’s desk by the end of Friday to avert a partial government shutdown.

Trump has endorsed a House Republican-led measure, a rough extension of fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding levels called a continuing resolution (CR), that will keep government spending largely flat for FY 2025, until the beginning of FY 2026 on Oct. 1 – something House GOP leaders claim as a victory.

‘Pass the bill,’ said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who declined to elaborate further on the meeting.

House Republicans are largely expected to shoulder the burden of passing the bill themselves, despite Democrats historically voting in droves to avoid government shutdowns. 

However, House Democratic leaders have accused Republicans of trying to use the legislation to allow Elon Musk and Trump to continue upending the federal bureaucracy – a point that is not dissimilar to what conservatives support about the bill.

A senior source involved in negotiations on the CR told Fox News Digital they were optimistic about where it was going.

‘There were people who would say ‘I don’t like CRs, but I trust the administration, so I think I can move forward on this one,” the source said of the House Republicans’ conference meeting.

Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., a fiscal hawk who is generally opposed to CRs, said as much in a brief back-and-forth with Fox News on Tuesday morning, after announcing he would ‘barely’ support the bill.

‘The ‘barely’ is Donald Trump,’ Burlison said. ‘He is the difference maker. I would never support this language, but I do trust Donald Trump.’

The vote is expected to take place late Tuesday afternoon.

Trump and his allies spent Monday calling potential holdouts and are expected to do so again on Tuesday.

At least one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is staunchly opposed to the bill.

In a sign of confidence, House GOP leaders announced they would send lawmakers back to their districts early, canceling a planned day of votes on Wednesday.

Fox News Digital reached out to Vance’s office for comment but did not hear back.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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X sees major outages as Musk claims ‘massive cyberattack’ hit platform

Three separate outages appeared to hit Elon Musk’s X social media site Monday as he claimed it was suffering a ‘massive cyberattack.’

Downdetector.com first registered thousands of reports of trouble accessing or using the site around 5:30 a.m. ET. It took about an hour before those issues subsided.

Then, around 9:30 a.m., the issues appeared to flare up again, with as many as 40,000 outage reports detected. It again took about an hour for that incident to dissipate.

Finally, around 11:10 a.m., the issues cropped up again, according to Downdetector.

A representative for X couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Musk said Monday afternoon on X that there had been a ‘massive cyberattack’ against the site.

‘We get attacked every day, but this was done with a lot of resources. Either a large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved,” he said. He didn’t post any evidence of a cyberattack.

Experts said the outage was consistent with a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, a rudimentary but sometimes effective hacker tactic to overwhelm a website with traffic, effectively knocking it offline.

Isik Mater, the director of research at NetBlocks, a company that tracks global internet connectivity, told NBC News that X had suffered intermittent outages since Monday morning. While establishing a DDoS attack with certainty can be difficult, Mater said, Musk’s claim was plausible.

“It’s difficult to be certain, but given the pattern of three observed outages, a denial [of] service attack targeting X’s infrastructure can’t be ruled out,” she said. “It’s certainly one of the longest X/Twitter outages in our records.”

Musk said in an interview Monday afternoon on Fox Business that the outage was due to “a massive cyberattack to try to bring down the X system with IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area,” a reference to internet protocol addresses. IP addresses, strings of numbers assigned to all internet-connected devices, include codes indicating their countries of origin.

Large DDoS attacks usually rely on large armies of hacked devices from around the world. The IP addresses of the devices used against X aren’t public, and they are unlikely to be a reliable indication of where the attacker was based.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
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2025 NBA mock draft: Ups, downs headed into March tournaments

Duke is on track to have three lottery picks this season – Cooper Flagg is the projected No. 1 pick, Kon Knueppel has moved into the top five with his recent play and Khaman Maluach is a top-10 prospect and is slated to go No. 8 in this edition of USA TODAY Sports’ 2025 NBA mock draft.

Duke is loaded, on an eight-game winning streak and ranked No. 1 this week for the first time all season. The Blue Devils head into the ACC tournament as the No. 1 seed and are on track to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

With the major college basketball conference tournaments starting this week, let’s take a look at players who could be in the NBA as soon as next season. The draft is June 25-26:

2025 NBA mock draft

1. Cooper Flagg, Duke

Freshman, guard-forward, 6-9, 205, 18 years old
2024-25 stats: 19.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.3 bpg, 49.4% FG, 37.7% 3PT, 83% FT

The do-it-all young star leads the Blue Devils in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. Flagg has outstanding footwork, especially in the low post. He can use either hand on shots in the paint, knows how to run plays, can hit catch-and-shoot 3s and is an active weakside defender. Flagg, who has added more muscle since the start of the year, is a physical player who initiates contact, is confident and plays with force when necessary. He is leading Duke to an impressive season, which includes the ACC regular-season title. He shot 53.9% from the field in the Blue Devils’ eight-game winning streak to end the regular season.

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Freshman, guard, 6-6, 215, 19
2024-25 stats: 19.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.4 spg, 48.7% FG, 34.5% 3PT, 73.8% FT

The lefty stroke will remind some of Jalen Brunson, but Harper has far more size at 6-6 and tremendous length with a wingspan of 6-foot-10. Harper’s best asset at the next level might be his versatility to run point and play off the ball. In Rutgers’ regular-season finale against Minnesota, he had 22 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

3. Ace Bailey, Rutgers

Freshman, guard-forward, 6-10, 200, 18
2024-25 stats: 17.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.3 bpg, 45.8% FG, 34.6% 3PT, 69.2% FT

Bailey is a hyper-athletic wing with length and size coming into a league that prioritizes players built exactly the way he is with exactly the skill set he has: an effortless and reliable shot and an attack-first mentality with an ability to finish at the rim. Needs to improve as a playmaker on the pass and free throws. But even when offense isn’t easy, he remains active on defense.

4. VJ Edgecombe, Baylor

Freshman, guard, 6-5, 180, 19
2024-25 stats: 15.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.1 spg, 43.8% FG, 35.8% 3PT, 77.9% FT

The Bahamian native has displayed his athleticism, has shown he can be explosive and has an elite knack for steals. He will be able to contribute at the NBA level and can be aggressive at the point of attack. The freshman is a high-level off-ball scorer but can improve when it comes to on-ball scoring. Edgecombe logged significant minutes to end the season, including 38 in a loss to No. 3 Houston, a game in which Edgecombe had 23 points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block.

5. Kon Knueppel, Duke

Freshman, guard-forward, 6-7, 217, 19
2024-25 stats: 13.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 47% FG, 39.9% 3PT, 91.4% FT

He can ignite an offense with his 3-point shot, thanks to an efficient motion, seemingly always ready to receive the ball in his shooting pocket. He can also lace shots from midrange, takes care of the ball and is money on free throws. He shot 33-for-58 (56.9%) from the field, including 14-for-27 on 3s, in his final six regular-season games.

6. Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois

Freshman, guard, 6-6, 205, 19
2024-25 stats: 15.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.8 apg, 45.5% FG, 33.1% 3PT, 83.2% FT

Jakucionis is a playmaker – a scorer and passer. He has range with a nice 3-ball, can shoot off the dribble from deep, including on step-back 3s, and looks for an open teammate when he draws multiple defenders. Jakucionis sees the court well with savvy passes and likes to get to the rim for layups. But he can be turnover-prone. Illinois beat two ranked teams to finish the Big Ten regular season and though he wasn’t at his best offensively – 9-for-24 shooting – he had 11 assists.

7. Tre Johnson, Texas

Freshman, guard, 6-6, 190, 19
2024-25 stats: 20.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 apg, 43.4% FG, 39.5% 3PT, 88.3% FT

Johnson is a natural shooter and scorer. He does well when scoring on the move and is a decent playmaker for his size. He still needs to work on his ability to make plays for others. He must also work on his strength and his explosiveness in order to assert himself as a finisher at the rim. He has three 30-point games in the past two months, including 39 against Arkansas on Feb. 26. However, he was 0-for-14 from the field in a loss to Oklahoma to end the regular season.

8. Khaman Maluach, Duke

Freshman, center, 7-2, 250, 18
2024-25 stats: 8.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 68.3% FG, 75% FT

Playing about 20 minutes per game, Maluach is a mobile big who excels in pick-and-rolls and has the hands to catch lobs for easy dunks; soft touch at the rim; shot-blocker/rim protector; active on the offensive glass; will get stronger and has a great aptitude for the game, learning concepts quickly. Played for South Sudan at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

9. Asa Newell, Georgia

Freshman, forward, 6-11, 220, 19
2024-25 stats: 15.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.0 bpg, 54% FG, 29.3% 3PT, 74.8% FT

Based off of his size, Newell wouldn’t appear to be as quick and fluid as he is, which should make him an instant threat in pick-and-roll situations. He was one of the lone bright spots for the Bulldogs in a loss against No. 1 Auburn with a team-high 20 points. His scoring dipped at the end of the regular season, however, the Bulldogs won four consecutive games before the start of the SEC tournament.

10. Egor Demin, BYU

Freshman, forward, 6-9, 19
2024-25 stats: 10.8 ppg, 5.6 apg, 3.9 rpg, 1.1 spg, 41.9% FG, 27.6% 3PT, 67.1% FT

The Russian is a playmaker who can make quick decisions and facilitate for others. Demin is the size of a wing player but has guard-like skills. On defense, he uses his length to his advantage while forcing turnovers and being active in passing lanes. His shooting efficiency is a concern. BYU ended its regular season with eight consecutive victories. Demin had 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 26 minutes in an 85-74 victory over Utah in the final regular-season game.

11. Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma

Freshman, guard, 6-4, 182, 18
2024-25 stats: 16.3 ppg, 4.2 apg, 4.1 rpg, 1.5 spg, 43.3% FG, 26.5% 3PT, 85.1% FT

Solid start to his freshman season; quick on the dribble; has strength going to the rim and can finish; operates well in the pick-and-roll as a scorer and passer; needs to improve his 3-point shot but potential is there. Fears scored a season-high 31 points and added five assists and four rebounds in a win against ranked Missouri.

12. Liam McNeeley, UConn

Freshman, forward, 6-7, 210, 19
2024-25 stats: 14.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 39.5% FG, 34.7% 3PT, 86.4% FT

What McNeeley may lack in fluid athleticism, he more than makes up for with a smooth, natural shot and knack for drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line. He also has a quick release and plenty of range to suggest that he should get early minutes. He has bounced back since suffering an ankle injury New Year’s Day that had sidelined him for a few weeks. McNeeley struggled with his shot at times down the stretch of the regular season but helped UConn get back on track with four consecutive victories.

13. Derik Queen, Maryland

Freshman, center, 6-10, 246, 20
2024-25 stats: 15.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.0 bpg, 52.6% FG, 75.8% FT

An active, physical big man, Queen has a soft touch around the rim with either hand but has a power game, too. He can run the court and handle the basketball well for a power forward-center. He is another potential first-round pick with good hands and footwork and has the mechanics to become a shooter who can stretch the floor. He had 17 points and 12 rebounds in a big win over ranked Michigan.

14. Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

Forward, 6-10, 198, 18
2024-25 stats: 10.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, 51.8% FG, 23% 3PT, 70.7% FT

The next forward with elite finishing ability to come out of France, Essengue figures to be more of a developmental prospect, but his size, instincts at the rim and plus-defensive ability could make him a star if he bulks up.

15. Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina

Sophomore, forward, 6-8, 245, 20
2024-25 stats: 16.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.4 agp, 1.5 spg, 1.4 bpg, 59.4% FG, 25.9% 3PT, 70% FT

Although he’s a bit undersized at 6-foot-8 for a power forward, Murray-Boyles plays with intense effort and determination, which will very quickly please his NBA coaches. He also has plenty of strength to finish at the rim and was the SEC’s No. 3 rebounder. Murray-Boyles had 35 points and seven rebounds against Arkansas.

16. Ben Saraf, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

Guard, 6-6, 200, 19
2024-25 stats: 12.4 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 spg, 46.5% FG, 27.1% 3PT, 70.3% FT

He’s just as comfortable knocking down a step-back jumper, finding creases in the paint and dishing the ball with excellent vision. He may need some time to develop as he adjusts to NBA athletes, but his length and size at point guard will make him an intriguing prospect.

17. Nolan Traore, Saint-Quentin (France)

Guard, 6-4, 175, 19
2024-25 stats: 11.8 ppg, 4.6 apg, 1.9 rpg, 40.9% FG, 27.8% 3PT, 71.8% FT

Traore is a point guard who can score and pass and has court awareness but also a propensity for bad turnovers. He’s quick, can get to the rim and is comfortable taking his defender off the dribble. Needs to work on his shooting efficiency, especially on 3s. His brother, Armel, was on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles and South Bay Lakers before being waived last month.

18. Hugo Gonzalez, Real Madrid (Spain)

Guard-forward, 6-7, 207, 19
2024-25 stats: 3.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 41.1% FG, 27.9% 3PT, 74.4% FT

One of Europe’s top young NBA prospects, Gonzalez is a versatile wing with the ability to score inside and out. He can handle the basketball, pass and is a surprising shot-blocker. He’s still raw.

19. Thomas Sorber, Georgetown

Freshman, forward-center, 6-10, 255, 19
2024-25 stats: 14.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.0 spg, 53.2% FG, 72.4% FT

The standout freshman will miss the remainder of the season, requiring surgery to repair a foot injury suffered Feb. 15. That could alter his plans for the draft, but Sorber is a stellar inside threat who’s just as comfortable cutting to the basket on pick-and-rolls as he is backing down opponents. His rebounding and rim protection will make him an asset, as he continues to grow into his frame.

20. Jase Richardson, Michigan State

Freshman, guard, 6-3, 185, 19
2024-25 stats: 11.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 52.4% FG, 38.8% 3PT, 85.4% FT

The son of former Michigan State player and two-time NBA dunk champion Jason Richardson, Jase Richardson has improved as the season has progressed and has turned into the Spartans’ steady hand with the basketball as a shooter (inside and out) and facilitator. He is an active defender with surprising bouts of athleticism. He also has a knack for collecting rebounds, big plays and poise under pressure. During a seven-game winning streak to end the regular season, including five victories against ranked opponents, Richardson averaged 15.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and shot 38-for-74 (51.4%) from the field.

21. Kam Jones, Marquette

Senior, guard, 6-5, 205, 23
2024-25 stats: 18.9 ppg, 6.1 apg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, 48.5% FG, 30.6% 3PT, 64.6% FT

Jones is a strong, physical guard who can finish on drives to the rim, possesses solid footwork and isn’t afraid of contact. He has improved as a playmaker/passer this season and is a solid rebounder with at least 10 five-plus rebound games. The left-hander had a dip in his 3-point shooting percentage this season but has shown the ability to make them off the dribble and on catch-and-shoots as a career 37% shooter from deep in his four-year career. Jones had a huge game in a loss against ranked St. John’s on March 8: 32 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

22. Labaron Philon, Alabama

Freshman, guard, 6-4, 177, 19
2024-25 stats: 10.9 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.5 rpg, 1.3 spg, 46.3% FG, 30.8% 3PT, 76.4% FT

Philon excels in transition with his speed and ability to finish at the rim; is capable on catch-and-shoot 3s but needs work on that part of his game. He’s a heady defender who disrupts opponents with his ability to get steals. The Crimson Tide finished the regular season with seven games against ranked opponents, going 3-4, and Philon had 15 points in an overtime victory against top-ranked Auburn on March 8.

23. Boogie Fland, Arkansas

Freshman, guard, 6-2, 175, 18
2024-25 stats: 15.1 ppg, 5.7 apg, 3.4 rpg, 1.5 spg, 39.1% FG, 36.5% 3PT, 83.9% FT

Fland is an aggressive defender, can hit mid-range shots, makes 3s off the dribble and on catch-and-shoots and attacks the rim. He is getting more comfortable reading defenses and finding advantages with the pass. Fland sustained a a thumb injury Jan. 11 and hasn’t played since Jan. 18. He had season-ending surgery on Jan. 22.

24. Carter Bryant, Arizona

Freshman, forward, 6-8, 225, 19
2024-25 stats: 6.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.0 bpg, 47.9% FG, 34.9% 3PT, 69.2% FT

The athletic forward provides a solid combination of strength and fluidity. He has lateral quickness to stay in front of the ball and the ability to block shots. He can still improve on his technique as a finisher and in scoring efficiency. He will get an increased opportunity to impress scouts and executives at the draft combine if he enters the draft.

25. Joan Beringer, KK Cedevita (Adriatic League)

Forward-center, 6-10, 230, 18
2024-25 stats: 4.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 59.9% FG, 58.5% FT

Beringer has gained traction among NBA scouts and executives as a mobile big man who can run the pick-and-roll as a screener on offense and guard the pick-and-roll. He doesn’t have a lot of experience but his potential – especially as a rim protector – has made him a first-round prospect.

26. Noah Penda, Le Mans (France)

Forward, 6-8, 225, 20
2024-25 stats: 10.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.0 bpg, 44.4% FG, 30.9% 3PT, 72.5% FT

A solidly-built wing, Penda may not be the most explosive athlete, but he has flashed excellent footwork in the low block, has steady enough ball-handling abilities and can knock down 3s with relative efficiency. Penda has also shown that he can move well without the ball, often slashing through a defense on cuts for easy buckets.

27. Danny Wolf, Michigan

Junior, forward-center, 7-0, 250, 21
2024-25 stats: 12.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.4 bpg, 50% FG, 34.4% 3PT, 60% FT

The Yale transfer is shooting up draft boards thanks to his fluid scoring and play-making portfolio in the package of a 7-foot stretch big. Wolf has played point guard at times this season for the Wolverines just like he’s played center. His handles make him a threat as the initiator in pick-and-roll actions and his range should translate to the NBA.

28. Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s

Junior, forward, 6-9, 240, 20
2024-25 stats: 15.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 1.5 spg, 1.4 apg, 56% FG, 41.8% 3PT, 72.5% FT

Fleming is a mobile forward who plays a physical game and has strong footwork to finesse his way around defenders. He likes to get easy buckets in transition, his 3-point percentage in nearly five attempts per game is encouraging and he is valuable in pick-and-rolls as the screener. Defensively, he deflects passes and can protect the rim. Fleming averaged 18.8 points and 7.7 rebounds and shot 58.9% in the last six regular-season Atlantic 10 Conference contests.

29. Johni Broome, Auburn

Senior, forward-center, 6-10, 240, 22
2024-25 stats: 18.6 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.4 bpg, 50.6% FG, 29.7% 3PT, 61.6% FT

A powerful and physical forward, Broome is a double-double machine in points and rebounds but also has a penchant for assists – 31 points, 14 rebounds against Georgia; 19 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and two blocks against Alabama; 21 points, 20 rebounds, six assists, three blocks against Ohio State. He is in the running for college player of the year, and even though Auburn lost to Alabama on March 8, Broome scored 34 points, grabbed eight rebounds, blocked five shots and generated three steals.

30. Alex Karaban, UConn

Junior, forward, 6-8, 225, 22
2024-25 stats: 14.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.6 bpg, 44% FG, 35.3% 3PT, 83.1% FT

After initially declaring for the 2024 draft, Karaban withdrew and opted to return to UConn. In the NBA, Karaban figures to be more of a complimentary player, with a knack for finding open gaps in a defense. His ability to catch and shoot should translate instantly. He shot the ball well at the end of the regular season, going 27-for-56 from the field and 12-for-26 on 3s in five games before the Big East Conference tournament.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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English soccer club unveils plans to replace its historic stadium

It’s literally out with the Old and in with the new for English Premier League soccer team Manchester United.

The club unveiled plans Tuesday to build a new stadium to replace Old Trafford, its home for more than 100 years. The proposal calls for a new facility with up to 100,000 seats – which would make it the largest in the United Kingdom – to be built on the same site as Old Trafford.

Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, said it would be ‘a truly state-of-the-art stadium that transforms the fan experience’ and would take just five years to complete.

Old Trafford opened in 1910 and has been the home of Manchester United since then. Its most recent expansion in 2006 raised the capacity to roughly 75,000. However, in terms of modern conveniences, it has fallen behind other stadiums – including that of local rival Manchester City.

The new stadium would surpass Wembley (capacity: 90,000) as the country’s largest.

Despite a recent lack of success on the pitch, Man U is still one of the world’s most recognizable franchises. Since the departure of legendary manager Alex Ferguson, the 20-time champions have struggled mightily and currently sit 14th in the Premier League Table with just nine wins in 28 games.

‘Old Trafford holds so many special memories for me personally,’ Ferguson said in a press release, ‘but we must be brave and seize this opportunity to build a new home, fit for the future, where new history can be made.’

(This story was updated to add a video.)

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Politics

Trump envoy Witkoff heading to Russia for second time later this week, source says

U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is heading to Russia later this week, a source familiar with the matter told Fox News. 

The confirmation comes after media reports said Witkoff is planning to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a second time. 

Witkoff previously met Putin for three hours in mid-February during a trip to Moscow to secure the release of detained American Marc Fogel, according to Axios. 

The Kremlin then suggested around that time that another U.S.-Russia prisoner swap could be coming. 

Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz are currently in Saudi Arabia meeting a senior Ukrainian delegation for talks about ending the Ukraine-Russia war. 

The Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia was expected to include Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential office, Andrii Sybiha, minister of foreign affairs, Pavlo Palisa, colonel of armed forces of Ukraine and an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who was not only involved in initial talks with Russia following its February 2022 invasion, but who also survived a poisoning attack after a peace meeting in March that year.  

Rubio told reporters Monday that ‘The important point in this meeting is to establish clearly their intentions, their desire, as they’ve said publicly now, numerous times, to reach a point where peace is possible,’ adding that he will need to be assured that Kyiv is prepared to make some hard decisions, like giving up territory seized by Russia, in order to end the three-year war.  

‘I wouldn’t prejudge tomorrow about whether or not we have a minerals deal,’ Rubio also said on board a flight to Saudi Arabia. ‘It’s an important topic, but it’s not the main topic on the agenda. 

Fox News’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report. 

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Trump energy chief declares climate change a ‘global physical phenomenon’ amid reversal of Biden-era policies

President Donald Trump’s energy chief vowed a reversal of ‘politically polarizing’ Biden-era climate policies as the new administration approaches climate change as ‘a global physical phenomenon.’

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking during an energy conference on Monday, knocked climate policies implemented under former President Joe Biden and dismissed claims that he was a ‘climate denier.’

‘I am a climate realist,’ Wright said at S&P Global’s CERAWeek conference in Houston. ‘The Trump administration will treat climate change for what it is, a global physical phenomenon that is a side effect of building the modern world.’

The remarks represent an administrative shift on the issue after Biden claimed that climate change was the ‘ultimate threat to humanity.’

Wright argued that the Biden administration had implemented policies that did not promote consumer choice, such as electric vehicle mandates and regulations on household appliances. 

Two main goals of the Trump administration’s approach to these appliances will be lowered cost and higher performance, according to Wright.

‘Is that radical?’ Wright said of the objectives. ‘The Trump administration will end the Biden administration’s irrational, quasi-religious policies on climate change that imposed endless sacrifices on our citizens.’

‘The previous administration’s climate policies have been impoverishing to our citizens, economically destructive to our businesses and politically polarizing,’ Wright said. ‘The cure was far more destructive than the disease. There are no winners in that world except for politicians and rapidly growing interest groups. The only interest group that we are concerned with is the American people.’

During his remarks, Wright announced the fourth action on liquefied natural gas (LNG) with the approval of an export permit extension for Delfin LNG LLC (Delfin), a project which was delayed by the Biden administration, according to a press release from the energy department.

Wright’s remarks come as Trump makes ‘unleashing American energy’ a key focus of his second administration.

Fox News Digital reached out to Biden and the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

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Romania’s now-barred presidential frontrunner Călin Georgescu claims he is facing Trump-like charges

Romania’s right-wing presidential frontrunner was barred from the race under criminal charges he compares to those President Donald Trump faced.

‘We are faced with a communist regime as well,’ Călin Georgescu, told Fox News Digital just before a Romanian electoral bureau barred him from running in a May presidential election rerun. Prosecutors opened a criminal case against him two weeks prior. 

Chaos broke out in the streets of Romania’s capital, Bucharest, after the bureau announced its decision to bar the right-wing populist from the ballot. Georgescu was the top vote-getter in the results of the first election, which were annulled. 

The charges against him stemmed from ‘communication of false information,’ involvement with a fascist organization and ‘incitement to actions against the constitutional order.’ 

‘They are trying to destroy democracy,’ Georgescu claimed. ‘They could not accept to lose the power and access to the money.’ 

He claimed Romanian authorities are trying to ‘censor all the online sites.’ 

Before emerging as a conservative political figure, Georgescu’s background was in sustainable development, and he worked on environmental issues at the United Nations. 

Georgescu is now appealing the ban on his candidacy, which prompted U.S. leaders to comment on the drama. The Constitutional Court is expected to weigh in on his appeal by Wednesday. 

 ‘How can a judge end democracy in Romania?’ Elon Musk asked in an X post on Monday. 

The results of the first election were thrown out over accusations that Russia had launched a TikTok campaign to benefit Georgescu. 

The turmoil earned Romania a shoutout from Vice President JD Vance in his speech at the Munich Security Conference. 

‘You can believe it’s wrong for Russia to buy social media advertisements to influence your elections. We certainly do. You can condemn it on the world stage, even. But if your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country, then it wasn’t very strong to begin with.’

Georgescu thanked U.S. leaders for weighing in on his behalf, though he said he has not had contact with American government officials behind the scenes. 

Georgescu denied that Russia was at play in the first election, and claimed he was not the ‘pro-Russian’ candidate. 

‘I’m pro-Romanian. I have nothing to do with Russia,’ he said. Nevertheless, Russia has said any election without Georgescu would be ‘illegitimate.’

‘It has nothing to do with [Russia]. It’s just a copy paste of the accusations made against Donald Trump. It’s just they changed the name Trump.’ 

The politician has taken heat for describing Russian President Vladimir Putin as a ‘man who loves his country.’ But he claims that critics twist his words advocating ‘peaceful settlement’ in the war on Ukraine because they are ‘allergic to the word peace.’ 

Georgescu has been critical of NATO and the European Union, and enthusiastically said he would cut off all aid to Ukraine if he took high office. 

‘We shall stop totally all the contributions related with Ukraine,’ he said. 

Georgescu, who was little-known until a social media campaign for his candidacy took off last year, is also charged with obscuring the origins of campaign financing. 

Asked how he raised money for his campaign, Georgescu said: ‘The situation was very, very easy. I made the best of what I had… we established a strategy sent by social media and I said to the people, be free to do everything you want.’ 

‘The people in the moment when they realize they [can be] free… we won this point, because it’s a moment when the people are free, they can do miracles.’

‘They accuse me for different things, they are very strange and awkward, no evidence in any situation,’ said Georgescu, adding that he believes he is under investigation because ‘the oligarch system was exposed.’

Last week, Romania also expelled two military attachés with the Russian embassy. Their reason for expulsion was listed vaguely as taking part in actions that ran afoul of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. 

Asked if Russian influence was an issue in his country, Georgescu said: ‘I don’t know anything about that. The only thing which I know, I know that we have to have very good relationships with our neighbors, extremely good relationships with the neighbors, and very good relationships with all the big countries, particularly, of course, with, with Russia, with the United States, with China.’

‘Of course, we cannot allow [anybody] to intervene in our country. This is all. But we have to have very good relationships with everybody.’

He declined to say whether he would pull Romania out of NATO. 

‘The United States is the first partner,’ he said. ‘So whatever I have to do, whatever I wish to do, this is the main part which I recognize. The United States as a principle flag of democracy and freedom. And this is the principle partner which I’m looking for.’

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Tesla shares plunge 15%, steepest drop in five years

Tesla’s selloff on Wall Street intensified on Monday, with shares of the electric vehicle maker plunging 15%, their worst day on the market since September 2020.

On Friday, Tesla wrapped up a seventh straight week of losses, its longest losing streak since debuting on the Nasdaq in 2010. The stock has fallen every week since CEO Elon Musk went to Washington, D.C., to take on a major role in the second Trump White House.

Since peaking at $479.86 on Dec. 17, Tesla shares have lost over 50% of their value, wiping out over $800 billion in market cap. Monday marked the stock’s seventh worst day on record.

Tesla led a broader slump in U.S. equities, with the Nasdaq tumbling almost 4%, its steepest decline since 2022.

The downdraft in Tesla’s stock on Monday was tied to uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s plans on tariffs. Canada and Mexico are key markets for automotive suppliers, and increased tariffs, with the potential for a trade war, will likely impact production and lead to higher prices.

Tesla is also dealing with brand erosion due to Musk’s incendiary political rhetoric and his extensive work with the Trump administration, where he’s leading up the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, has become the public face of the administration’s effort to dramatically shrink the federal government’s workforce, spending and capacity.

Meanwhile, Musk has used his social network X to level accusations against judges whose decisions he didn’t like and promoted false Kremlin talking points about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Activists and former Musk fans have protested at Tesla facilities throughout the U.S., and Tesla vehicles and facilities have been the apparent targets of vandalism and arson attempts. Repeated arson attempts and instances of vandalism occurred at a Tesla store and service center in Loveland, Colorado, most recently on March 7, police told CNBC.

Ben Kallo, an analyst at Baird, told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” on Monday that recent reports of vandalism could hurt demand.

“When people’s cars are in jeopardy of being keyed or set on fire out there, even people who support Musk or are indifferent Musk might think twice about buying a Tesla,” Kallo said.

Analysts at Bank of America’s wrote in a report on Monday that Tesla new vehicle sales plummeted by about 50% in Europe in January from a year earlier, partly owing to growing distaste for the brand. The firm also noted that some prospective customers are waiting for the new version of the Model Y.

Tesla’s Model Y, which is a small SUV, remained the best-selling battery electric vehicle globally in January. It was followed by China’s Geely Geome, which surpassed the Tesla Model 3 sedan for the month.

Global sales of electric vehicles, including fully electric and plug-in hybrid models, increased 21% in January from a year ago, even as Tesla’s sales declined. The growth was driven by demand in Europe, according to Bank of America.

— CNBC’s Jesse Pound contributed to this report.

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How can Super Bowl champs replace departing stars? Ranking top options

Howie Roseman doesn’t need an excuse to invest in his defensive line.

The Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president and general manager has made his proclivity for focusing on his fronts well known. And with a relentless pass rush keying his team’s Super Bowl 59 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone at the line of scrimmage remains at the forefront of his mind.

“Always on the lookout for those positions at every level,’ Roseman said at the NFL scouting combine of the offensive and defensive line, ‘whether it’s in free agency, whether it’s in the draft, whether it’s after the draft, whether it’s on the street. It’s really, like, an unhealthy obsession.’

Now, Roseman has added reason to indulge it.

Not long after the NFL’s negotiation period opened Monday ahead of the official start of free agency, the Eagles learned they had two critical defections: edge rusher Josh Sweat, who agreed to a four-year, $76.4 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals, and defensive tackle Milton Williams, who landed a four-year, $104 million deal with the New England Patriots.

Both played a vital role in the Eagles’ title run, particularly down the stretch. Sweat engineered a team-high six pressures and 2½ sacks in Super Bowl 59, while Williams added two more against the Chiefs and ranked sixth among interior defensive linemen in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate (13%) on the season.

For Philadelphia, the effort to address the departures will no doubt begin with the in-house options. At outside linebacker, Nolan Smith Jr. enjoyed a late-season breakout that featured four sacks in the team’s first three playoff contests. But counting on 2024 third-round pick Jalyx Hunt and Bryce Huff – last year’s marquee free-agent signing who was inactive for the Super Bowl after becoming an afterthought in the edge-rush rotation – could be a dicey proposition. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Moro Ojomo is slotted to take on a more substantial workload in his third season, but the Eagles could be compelled to add further help next to Pro Bowl selection Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis up front.

That could prompt Roseman to give both positions heavy consideration early in the draft, either with the final pick in the first round or either of the team’s Day 2 selections. With both spots seeming to be deep on talent as strong points of the class, there should be several potential considerations for Roseman, even if the top players at each position – including Abdul Carter, Shemar Stewart and Mykel Williams at edge rusher along with Mason Graham at defensive tackle – will almost assuredly be long gone by the time Philadelphia comes on the clock at No. 32 overall.

With that in mind, here are the Eagles’ top five options in the NFL draft at both edge rusher and defensive tackle:

Eagles’ top edge rusher options in NFL draft

1. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

In pure pass-rushing upside, Pearce doesn’t have a peer among the potential options here. The 6-5, 245-pounder combines a blistering burst off the line of scrimmage with a penchant for converting speed to power. While his approach is still underdeveloped and too often leads to missed tackles, Pearce flashes significant untapped potential thanks to his instincts, length and balance. Even if he’s a potential liability against the run early in his career due to his subpar strength, pursuing a highly athletic threat off the edge who’s yet to put everything together has worked for the Eagles before – look no further than Sweat, the former five-star recruit who was a fourth-round pick in 2018.

2. Mike Green, Marshall

The Football Bowl Subdivision leader in sacks with 17 makes his mark by screaming off the edge in the passing game, but he’s also growing his capabilities against the run. What, then, is the knock against Green? For one, his 6-3, 251-pound frame has prompted concerns of how his ultra-aggressive style will translate to the next level, leaving him as somewhat of an all-or-nothing player until he bulks up or takes a more disciplined approach. But teams will also have to take a closer look after Green twice faced sexual assault allegations – he denied both one in high school and another at Virginia that preceded his transfer – that could put a player who might otherwise be solidly entrenched in the first round into the Eagles’ range.

3. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

At just over 6-2 and 248 pounds, he might seem like an odd candidate to take over for the rangy and explosive Sweat. But in racking up 16½ sacks last season, Ezeiruaku has demonstrated he has plenty of different ways to chart a course to the quarterback. He’s more physical than one might expect from an edge rusher of his build, and he has a knack for picking the right pass-rush move to exploit a would-be blocker. While his athletic limitations might leave him with a lower ceiling than the top two options on this list, his sound and steady approach should help him remain a highly disruptive presence at the next level – though his stock might be ticking higher into the first round.

4. JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State

A bit of a throwback defensive end, Tuimoloau relishes the chance to lock onto offensive tackles. And after recording 21½ tackles for loss last season, he’s shown he can make a distinct mark against the run while routinely pushing the pocket. Replicating the pass-rush efficiency he demonstrated with 12½ sacks last season, however, seems far-fetched given that he can be rigid and clunky when trying to close in on passers.

5. Jordan Burch, Oregon

If Roseman wants to follow Sweat’s thread of a former blue-chip recruit who never reached his full potential in college, it might lead him to Burch. The 6-4, 279-pounder finally began to put things together last season, recording 8½ sacks in 10 games after only showing occasional flashes of his promise at both South Carolina and Oregon. Burch’s size belies his capabilities both for better – his explosiveness and fluidity make an imposing matchup as a pass rusher – and worse, as he too often comes up small against the run. As a Day 2 option, he should be plenty alluring.

Eagles’ top defensive tackle options in NFL draft

1. Walter Nolen, Mississippi

Unafraid to barrel into blockers or snake past them, Nolen has the tools to become a mainstay in opposing backfields. The 6-4, 296-pounder can throw linemen off balance shortly after the snap with either his quickness or strength, and he’s one of the few defensive tackles in this class who can also moonlight on the edge.

2. Derrick Harmon, Oregon

Versatile? No question, as Harmon is comfortable attacking offenses from anywhere along the line. Disruptive? And then some – no interior defender had more pressures last season (55, according to Pro Football Focus) than the Michigan State transfer. The 6-5, 313-pound Harmon might not measure up to Williams in the ability to finish plays given limitations in his fluidity, but he can create consistent headaches for opponents and open up opportunities for others.

3. Kenneth Grant, Michigan

Far more nimble than his 6-4, 331-pound build would suggest, Grant has been likened to Davis as an astonishingly athletic big body in the middle with room to grow as a pass rusher. His inconsistency might not deter Philadelphia as much as it would other teams considering him in the late first round, as Roseman could see a physical and versatile force who demands double teams.

4. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State

Pushing his way into the backfield isn’t a problem for Williams, who routinely jolted interior offensive linemen off the snap. But while teams can count on him to be a force against the run, his production as a pass rusher is much harder to project, as he too often is neutralized when he can’t win with his bull rush.

5. Alfred Collins, Texas

Like Tyleik Williams, Collins wouldn’t represent a replacement for Milton Williams so much as an opportunity to reconfigure the defensive line as a whole. He might lack the playmaking streak as a pass rusher that would catch Roseman’s eye. But whether by force or movement, the 6-6, 332-pounder consistently puts himself in the right position. A high-end run-stopper who can help control the line of scrimmage should still be of great utility to this defense.

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