The United States Justice Department has filed new criminal charges against James Comey, the former FBI director, in what appears to be the latest instance of the department targeting political enemies of President Donald Trump. Comey was charged over a picture he posted on Instagram last year while on vacation, showing seashells arranged to read "86 47".
Details of the Charges
Comey faces two felonies: making a threat against the president and transmitting that threat via social media across state lines. The indictment argues that the seashell numbers would be interpreted by a reasonable person as a serious expression of intent to harm the President of the United States.
Comey deleted the post and apologized, stating he had not realized the numbers were associated with violence. In a video response, he said: "Well, they're back. This time, about a picture of seashells on a North Carolina beach a year ago. And this won't be the end of it, but nothing has changed with me. I am still innocent. I am still not afraid. And I still believe in the independent federal judiciary. So, let's go."
King Charles Addresses Congress
King Charles has extolled the importance of Britain's "special relationship" with the US in a speech to Congress that praised NATO and called for the defense of Ukraine and action on the climate crisis. The speech, interpreted as an appeal to President Trump to return to traditional European alliances, was the first royal address to Congress in 35 years.
Charles said: "America's words carry weight and meaning, as they have since independence. The actions of this great nation matter even more." Trump claimed the King agrees with him on Iran, but as head of state, the King remains politically neutral.
Disneyland Introduces Facial Recognition
Disneyland has equipped parts of its California adventure park with facial recognition technology, raising privacy concerns. At certain entrance lanes, cameras capture images of visitors, converting them into unique numerical values via biometric technology to streamline re-entry and prevent fraud. Other venues, including MLB stadiums, use similar systems, with privacy experts warning of dangerous precedents.
Other News
- Aid organizations call for a humanitarian corridor through the Strait of Hormuz as blockades prevent food and medical aid from reaching vulnerable populations.
- New Zealand officials reject a statue commemorating "comfort women" after objections from Tokyo.
- France investigates the reappearance of a website used to recruit strangers to rape Gisèle Pelicot.
- A federal judge blocks Trump administration attempts to access Arizona voter records.
Population Trends
Deaths are projected to outnumber births in the UK every year from 2026, with the population peaking in the 2050s before decreasing, according to the Office for National Statistics. Net migration will be the only driver of growth. In the US, deaths are expected to outnumber births from 2030.
Responding to Body Criticism
Beauty experts advise empathetic responses when friends criticize their weight or looks, encouraging conversations about industry-driven insecurities without sounding preachy.
AI Jailbreakers
Hackers like Valen Tagliabue manipulate AI models to break rules, coaxing them into giving instructions for bombs or cyber-attacks. Their findings help fix flaws, but the work takes a toll: "Unless you're a sociopath, that does something to a person," Tagliabue says.
Climate Progress
Despite Trump's efforts to obstruct clean energy, March saw the US generate more electricity from renewables than gas for the first full month, and last year was a record for green energy.
Dog Brain Shrinkage
Research shows dogs' brains began shrinking 5,000 years ago, but this does not indicate lower intelligence. Domestication made them better at reading and communicating with humans.
