The Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) has been crucial for the global sea-level rise crisis due to the loss of ice at alarming rates, particularly regions in West Antarctica and parts of East Antarctica.
Between 2021 and 2023, however, the Antarctic ice sheet gained mass after nearly two decades of steady decline, a study published in Science China Earth Sciences reveals.
According to researchers, the surprising anomaly is a result of unusually heavy snowfall. This led to a gain of around 107.79 gigatonnes of ice per year, reducing the annual rise in sea level to 0.30 millimeters.
The changes were spotted through analysis of the satellite gravimetry data from the GRACE and GRACE-FO missions, which measure variations in Earth’s gravity to detect changes in ice mass.
However, according to researchers, this historic turnaround doesn’t mean a lasting recovery as it is a result of abnormal weather patterns. In order for the trend of gaining ice mass to continue, there needs to be consistent snowfall and cooling temperatures. This, however, isn’t something that is much likely to happen.
The key factors that led the Antarctica to lose ice mass have been the raising temperatures that reduce snowfall accumulation, and the warming of ocean waters, causing chunks of ice to break off and melt into the ocean, raising the seas levels.
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While she’s been criticized by some for her choice of wardrobe on public occasions, most people agree that Melania Trump is the best dressed First Lady the country has ever had.
Melania received backlash in 2017 when she accompanied her husband to the G7 summit in Sicily and wore a Dolce and Gabana floral coat that cost $51,000. At the time, USA Today reported it was the equivalent of an average American’s household income.
Stephanie Grisham, former White House press secretary and author of the book I’ll Take Your Questions Now, recalled a specific moment when Trump went mad over his wife’s “mistake,” which made him target of wide criticism. Namely, on her way to a migrant housing facility in Texas, Melania wore a jacket with the text “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?”
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
The truth is that Melania Trump’s fashion statements often cause a stir among the public, and most recently, her choice of outfit for the Pope’s funeral didn’t fall short on sparking controversy.
Melania was dressed in an-all black outfit for the service from the Italian designer label Dolce & Gabbana, Women’s Wear Daily reported. Her outfit was a double-breasted coat paired with a black mantilla and black gloves.
This isn’t the first time the First Lady to opt for the Italian label.
“She’s always had a great relationship with Dolce & Gabbana. She is a very faithful person and has been wearing their outfits for a long time. It made sense to chose them given the place of religion in Italian culture,” photographer Régine Mahaux told WWD.
Getty Images
As a mark of respect, Melania wore a black lace funeral veil, known as a mantilla veil. Being of Slovenian descent—a traditionally Catholic country—her choice reflected cultural and religious significance. According to the Catholic Company, the mantilla is “often worn by faithful women as a way of emulating Mary, who is the archetype of humility.” It “signifies the role of women as a life-bearing vessel.”
Wearing the veil and closing her eyes several times during the service brought praise to the First Lady.
“Ultimate class and reverence, Melania Trump wearing a Mantilla Veil,” one user wrote on X, per Express. A second added: “Melania was perfect this time by wearing black and a mantilla.”
A third stated: “First Lady Melania Trump honored Pope Francis with a stunning black lace veil and elegant attire at his funeral, reflecting her deep appreciation for the moment. Her attire not only paid homage to her own Catholic faith but also echoed the iconic style of Jacqueline Kennedy, making it a significant fashion statement.”
AP
As always, there were also those who criticized her choice—especially her high heels, which they deemed inappropriate.
“Why did Melania wear 8-inch heels to the pope’s funeral? Not appropriate. These people have zero class,” someone wrote.
While she earned admiration from the public, Melania’s husband was slammed for disrespecting Pope Francis and the service.
Namely, he opted for a blue color suit while everyone else’s was black.
AP
People took to the social media to share their opinion. Many agreed that the US president lacked class and disrespected the pope by trying to steal the attention.
“Any reason why Donald Trump is in a blue suit and not wearing traditional black for a funeral?” someone wondered.
Another added: “I see that Trump’s wearing a blue suit to the Pope’s funeral so that he stands out. T**ser!”
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Among those killed when a driver ploughed into a crowd at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in the car-ramming attack in Vancouver in April was costume designer Jenifer Darbellay, wife of Hallmark actor Noel Johansen. His son, 15, and daughter, 7, also attended the festival together with their parents.
Both Johansen and his daughter were injured.
A couple of days following the tragedy, heartbroken Johansen, who appeared on crutches, said during a candlelight vigil, “What you see here is an injury that means nothing to me because what’s inside my heart is broken. Because my wife passed away behind me at the incident.”
He added, “She never celebrated herself in her life. She never thought of herself; she thought of herself as small in terms of the reach.
“And I can tell you she was larger than life for any of you who know her. So don’t be small in life, be big, reach out and reach out as a human being with everything you have and please remember us who went through this.”
Associated Press
Michael Daingerfield Hall, friend of the actor, started a GoFundMe page that has raised nearly $170,000 of its $200,000 goal.
Hall described Darbellay as “an incredibly thoughtful, warm, caring, smart, stylish, artistic woman.”
Jenifer Darbellay, wife of Hallmark actor Noel Johansen, was killed during the Vancouver attack/ GoFundMe
The devastated actor, who made appearances in Psych, Supernatural, Fargo and The Good Doctor, but is best known for the Hallmark movies Chesapeake Shores, Harvest Love, Reunited at Christmas, and Garage Sale Mystery: All That Glitters among the rest, fought to fight tears back when paying tribute to his late wife.
The person who caused the tragedy and killed 11 festival attendees, 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, has since been arrested and charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, but more charges are expected, officials said.
A number of people have been killed and multiple others are injured after a driver drove into a crowd at a street festival at E. 41st Avenue and Fraser shortly after 8 p.m. tonight. The driver is in custody. We will provide more information as the investigation unfolds. pic.twitter.com/Iqh5AK5Au3
Acting Police Chief Steve Rai said the suspect was “known to police in certain circumstances.” He added he had “a significant history of interactions with police and healthcare professionals related to mental health.” Rai, however, wouldn’t disclose whether or not the suspect had a past criminal record.
According to BBC News, witnesses said that the man drove “completely straight, right through the crowd.”
The black SUV that plowed through a crowd leaving 11 dead, among which Jenifer Darbellay, wife of Hallmark actor Noel Johansen/ Facebook
The Bao Buns food truck’s co-owner, Yoseb Vardeh, was at the scene. He witnessed Kai-Ji Adam Lo driving with 100 km/h (62 mph).
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney said the nation was left “shocked, devastated and heartbroken.”
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Former IRS contractor Charles Edward Littlejohn leaked the records of over 405,000 taxpayers, according to Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee. This confirms that the actual scale of leaked IRS tax returns was far greater than the 70,000 cases initially reported by the Biden administration.
Littlejohn is currently serving a five-year sentence after pleading guilty to the leaks.
“New disclosure reveals that the Biden IRS leaked taxpayer information of over 405,000 Americans — including President Trump’s,” the House Judiciary Committee wrote. “The IRS’s admission confirms the Committee’s suspicion and recent reports that show the scope of the leak was much broader than what the Biden Administration’s IRS initially led the public to believe.
“We found out that it’s actually over 405,000 taxpayers! This is a MASSIVE scandal.”
🚨 #BREAKING: New disclosure reveals that the Biden IRS leaked taxpayer information of over 405,000 Americans — including President Trump’s.
The IRS’s admission confirms the Committee’s suspicion and recent reports that show the scope of the leak was much broader than what the… pic.twitter.com/3KKYL5bHET
IRS informed those impacted by Littlejohn’s illegal actions, 89% of which business entities.
“Relying on data analysis by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the IRS, the IRS mailed notifications to 405,427 taxpayers whose taxpayer information was inappropriately disclosed by Mr. Littlejohn,” the IRS wrote in a Feb. 14 letter to Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
Littlejohn used the IRS archive to access the tax returns of billionaires like Peter Thiel, Warren Buffett, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos, as well as Donald Trump’s. He then leaked them to ProPublica and The New York Times.
Reuters
In order to avoid detection, Littlejohn “uploaded the tax returns to a private website in order to avoid IRS protocols established to detect and prevent large downloads or uploads from IRS devices or systems,” the Justice Department said in a press release.
While some praised Littlejohn for exposing the unfairness in the system, others accused him of damaging the public’s trust in the IRS.
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A good night’s sleep is essential to your overall well-being. If you rest well during the night, you will have the energy to get through the day without feeling exhausted, irritable, or stressed.
But what contributes to quality sleep? Limiting screen time before going to bed, managing stress, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule — among other factors.
Of course, your sleeping environment is an important factor too. A nice bed, a comfortable mattress, and a cozy pillow can make all the difference.
However, many people are unaware of the dangers hidden in their pillows.
One of the most concerning is flame retardants, applied to materials to prevent burning or slow the spread of fire. According to NIH, some of the harmful impacts on your health caused by flame retardants may include “endocrine and thyroid disruption, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, cancer, and adverse effects on fetal and child development and neurobehavioral function.”
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are gases emitted from certain solids or liquids and include a variety of chemicals. In pillows, they can be released from adhesives used to hold the materials together and from the fabric covering the pillow.
When the same pillow is used for a long period of time — sometimes for months, it collects dead skin cells, oils released from the skin, and dirt. Worn-out pillows are the perfect environment for mites, bacteria, mold, and fungi.
The most common types of pillows that are likely to contain these harmful chemicals are the memory foam pillows. The same goes for pillows made of polyester or other synthetic fibers.
It is for the best to opt for pillows made from natural materials, such as bamboo or buckwheat.
Before purchasing one, read the labels and be sure of the materials used.
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Judge Hannah Dugan, a judge in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, got arrested after being charged with felonies for helping an immigrant without documents escape federal officials.
In a social media post, the director of the FBI, Kash Patel, accused Judge Dugan of “intentionally misdirecting” agents from the immigrant who was in the country illegally. Later, he deleted the post.
Judge Dugan’s arrest was confirmed by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The immigrant in question, Mexican Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, was in Dugan’s courtroom on April 18.
Aware that agents with ICE, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection, and the FBI were in front of her courtroom at the time Flores-Ruiz had a hearing, Judge Dugan allegedly escorted him out of the courtroom via a jury door. Before doing so, she demanded that agents speak with the Milwaukee County Circuit Court’s chief judge.
Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested for helping an illegal immigrant escape agents/ Fox News
As reported, Flores-Ruiz is facing three misdemeanor battery counts which come from a fight with his roommates. He, however, doesn’t have other criminal charges.
Following Judge Dugan’s arrest, Judge Monica Isham of the Sawyer County Circuit Court demanded that the state’s top judicial officials provide clear guidance; otherwise, she will cease all court operations in her jurisdiction.
In the email she sent, titled “Guidance Requested or I Refuse to Hold Court,” Judge Isham wrote, “If there is no guidance for us and no support for us, I will refuse to hold court in Branch 2 in Sawyer County.
“I will not put myself or my staff who may feel compelled to help me or my community in harm’s way.”
She added: “I have no intention of allowing anyone to be taken out of my courtroom by ICE and sent to a concentration camp, especially without due process, as BOTH of the constitutions we swore to support require. Should I start raising bail money?”
Nobody should be surprised by the arrest of two judges. I have said many times within the past few months, that people can choose to support illegal immigration and not assist ICE in removing criminal illegal aliens from our communities, BUT DON’T CROSS THAT LINE. If you…
Trump took office for a second term and his inauguration was attended by key political figures.
Among those in attendance was former President Barack Obama. However, his wife, Michelle Obama, was not by his side, which only fueled rumors of an alleged divorce.
Also, Michelle missed Jimmy Carter’s funeral, which raised eyebrows at the time.
The former first lady was a guest on Sophia Bush’s podcast, Work in Progress, where she discussed life after her daughters have moved out.
“[Life] is whatever I want, Sophia, It’s whatever I want,” she said, adding that life of an “empty nester” is liberating.
“It’s the first time in my life all of my choices are for me.”
Getty Images
She then spoke of the position of women in society.
“They couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.”
On the podcast IMO, which she co-hosts with her brother, Michelle Obama revealed the real reason why she didn’t attend Trump’s inauguration.
“It started with not having anything to wear,” she said. However, being someone who owns a wardrobe for any occasion, it was as though she subconsciously stopped herself from attending the inauguration.
“I mean, cause I’m always prepared for any funeral, anything. I walk around with the right dress, I travel with clothes just in case something pops off.
“So I was like – if I’m not going to do this thing, I got to tell my team. I don’t even want to have a dress ready?”
She, however, wasn’t aware how her decision to say “no” could spark so many rumors about her marriage.
“My decision to skip the inauguration… Or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me were met with such ridicule and criticism,” she said.
“People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason, they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart,” the former First Lady told actress Taraji P. Henson. “It took everything in my power to not do the thing that was perceived as right, but do the things that was right for me, that was a hard thing for me to do.”
Days after the episode of the podcast premiered, Michelle and Barak had dinner in Washington D.C. at the Italian restaurant Osteria Mozza in Georgetown.
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Pope Francis’ funeral was attended by more than 250,000 people. The Italian government confirmed the presence of over 100 foreign delegations.
Among the world leaders who attended the funeral of the first pope from Latin-America was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena.
The two sat in the front row following an exception from the strict rules and traditions regarding seating. Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, told The Telegraph that Zelenskyy and his wife filled a “vacant place.”
The outfit Zelenskyy wore for Pope Francis’ funeral wasn’t a dark suit accompanied by a long black tie and a black button on the left side of the jacket, as advised. Instead, he wore a tailored military-style field jacket.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
The Ukrainian leader hasn’t worn a suit since Russia went into war with his country three years ago. He also didn’t wear a suit during his meeting with Donald Trump at the Oval Office, a topic touched by reporter who criticized Zelenskyy for wearing a military outfit for such a formal meeting.
“I will wear costume after this war will finish,” he replied.
Zelenskyy paid his tributes to Pope Francis despite Ukrainian officials feeling that the Vatican had not done enough to support Ukraine.
In March 2024, Pope Francis triggered criticism when he said Ukraine should negotiate and end the war by showing the courage “the courage to raise the white flag.”
“The strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people, and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates,” Pope Francis said. “When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate.”
Wikipedia
Ukraine firmly rejected the pope’s proposal, with the country’s Vatican ambassador comparing it to appeasing Hitler, and Zelenskyy later addressed the issue without naming the pope.
“They are on the frontline, protecting life and humanity, supporting with prayer, conversation, and deeds,” Zelenskyy said. “This is what the church is – it is together with people, not two-and-a-half thousand kilometres away somewhere, virtually mediating between someone who wants to live and someone who wants to destroy you.”
Vatican then said that when he spoke of a “white flag,” Pope Francis indicated “a truce reached with the courage of negotiation.”
In December, during a mass, Pope Francis received backlash once again when he called Ukraine and Russia “brother.”
Two months before his passing, the pontiff called the war between the two countries “painful and shameful.”
“As I renew my solidarity with the martyred Ukrainian people, I invite you to remember the victims of all armed conflicts and to pray for the gift of peace in Palestine, Israel, and throughout the Middle East, in Myanmar, in Kivu, and in Sudan,” Pope Francis said.
Ukraine has accused the pope of not doing enough to support their country. They also claimed he hadn’t condemned Russia for the invasion.
An unnamed official told AFP that Vatican and Pope Francis showed an “absolute ignorance of this part of the world.”
Despite the criticism, the Ukrainian official showed gratitude for Vatican’s efforts in mediating the return of Ukrainian children, taken from occupied parts of the country to Russia, as well as in prisoner exchanges.
I met with members of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. Yesterday, we all received the sorrowful news of the passing of Pope Francis. My condolences. We remember his prayers for peace in Ukraine. Our state will be represented in Rome at the farewell… pic.twitter.com/N57BfJzLoR
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 22, 2025
Following Pope Francis’ passing, Zelenskyy paid tribute on his and on the behalf of the Ukrainian people.
“I met with members of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. Yesterday, we all received the sorrowful news of the passing of Pope Francis. My condolences. We remember his prayers for peace in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote.
“Our state will be represented in Rome at the farewell ceremony this coming Saturday. This is now the week following Easter, yet every day brings Russian shelling and strikes. We all believe that this Easter season can provide an opportunity to take the necessary steps toward silence and peace. A real ceasefire is needed, as is a lasting and solid peace. Ukraine needs the support of religious communities — spiritual diplomacy, the diplomacy of values, always helps. This was the central focus of our meeting. It is important to continue engaging with our international partners”.
The President of Ukraine concluded, “I thank the churches and religious organizations for every achievement in advocating for Ukraine, for their prayers, and for the support they have given to our people throughout the entire war.”
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