Summary:

President Trump and US intelligence officials responded to a security breach involving a journalist being added to a group chat about air strikes on Yemen's Huthi rebels. Trump dismissed it as a "glitch," while officials claimed no classified information was shared. Democrats called for resignations, while the White House defended the incident as a distraction from Trump's achievements, sparking concerns over the use of commercial apps for government communications. Full Article

A premier Los Angeles restaurant, République, faced backlash after one of its owners expressed support for Elon Musk in a New York Times article about a Tesla café. Walter Manzke's comments sparked controversy among patrons, prompting the restaurant to clarify that their remarks were not political. République is a popular French bistro known for its exceptional food, and Musk's plans for the Tesla café in Hollywood have been in the works since 2022. Full Article

Former Montreal executive-committee president Frank Zampino allegedly organized a bid-rigging scheme where contracts were distributed to engineering firms without a clear pattern. The distribution of contracts appeared to lack logic or rationale, indicating potential corruption within the process. The lack of transparency in how contracts were awarded raises suspicions of foul play and the need for further investigation into Zampino's involvement. Full Article

Beijing’s ambassador to Canada, Wang Di, expressed China's interest in increasing trade with Ottawa amidst the global trade war led by the U.S., emphasizing that Canada should not be forced to choose sides between the two countries to avoid further destabilizing the global economy. Despite recent tensions, Wang mentioned that China's trade volume with Canada is still on the rise and expressed openness to considering a free-trade deal if Canada removes restrictions on Chinese trade, though recent retaliatory tariffs have been imposed by both countries. Wang opposes using China as a bargaining chip in international relations and believes that country-to-country relations should benefit all parties involved in the global community. Full Article

In a video discussing the potential success of the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it is questioned whether these teams could make an impact. The video fails to load, but viewers are encouraged to refresh their browsers to watch. Both teams are analyzed for their chances of success, sparking interest and debate among fans. Full Article

Multiple high-ranking officials in Donald Trump's Cabinet, including FBI Director Kash Patel and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, are facing scrutiny after a leaked text chain revealed discussions on Yemen war plans. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faced tough questioning from Senator Mark Warner over her involvement in the chat, with CIA Director Ratcliffe admitting his participation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the officials, claiming no classified information was shared, while a search is ongoing for the White House staff member responsible for the leak. Full Article

Jakob Ingebrigtsen testified in court that his father, Gjert, manipulated and controlled him during his upbringing, leading to fear and lack of free will. Gjert, a former coach, is on trial for allegedly abusing Jakob and another child, which he denies. Jakob detailed instances of physical and mental abuse, including being struck and threatened, while Gjert's lawyer stated he has a different perception of reality. Full Article

Chinese bubble tea chain Chagee filed for a U.S. initial public offering on Tuesday, seeking to trade on the Nasdaq using the ticker "CHA," as it prepares to open its first U.S. store in Los Angeles this spring. Founded in 2017, Chagee has over 6,400 teahouses across China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, with plans to expand globally. Despite concerns over Chinese companies seeking U.S. listings, Chagee aims to follow the success of international coffee companies like Starbucks and serve tea lovers worldwide. Full Article

French actor Gérard Depardieu acknowledged using vulgar language and grabbing a woman's hips during an on-set argument but denied it was sexual as he testified at his trial in Paris. The woman accused him of assault, describing him as behaving like a "madman" who frightened her. Depardieu faces up to five years in prison if convicted, with the trial seen as a test of French willingness to confront sexual violence. Full Article

A motorcyclist in his 30s was found dead after disappearing into a massive sinkhole in Seoul's Myeongil-dong neighborhood, with the sinkhole measuring 65 feet wide and deep. It took rescuers almost 18 hours to find the victim, who was wearing a helmet and motorcycle boots, with his Japanese-made motorcycle and cell phone located before his body. The cause of the sinkhole is still being investigated, while a woman in a passing van sustained only minor injuries. Full Article

Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was attacked by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and detained by Israeli forces before being released the next day. Witnesses reported that Ballal was targeted by masked settlers while breaking the Ramadan fast, leading to his detention on accusations of throwing stones at security forces. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the region and the challenges faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Full Article

The White House downplayed the seriousness of mistakenly including a journalist in a group chat discussing military attack details on Yemen, denying that war plans were discussed and no classified material was shared. Democrats are calling for the resignation of national security adviser Michael Waltz and defense secretary Pete Hegseth for sharing classified information, while some Republicans, like Representative Don Bacon, demand honesty from the White House about the breach. Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was added to the chat by Michael Waltz, with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also included, and operational details were posted by Hegseth two hours before U.S. strikes on Houthis in Yemen, confirmed as authentic by the National Security Council. Full Article

In an interview with Rob Brydon, Jason Isaacs shared that he was distracted by Richard Harris's scandalous stories while filming as Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter. Harris's explicit tales caused Isaacs to panic on set, but his stressed-out state ended up adding authenticity to the scene. Harris, who initially had reservations about playing Dumbledore, may have been preoccupied with not being solely remembered for his role in the franchise. Full Article

Senator Michael Bennet and CIA Director John Ratcliffe clashed over how a reporter was added to a Signal chat discussing a potential attack on the Houthis in Yemen, with Bennet questioning Ratcliffe's knowledge and judgment. Ratcliffe, unable to confirm who added the reporter, admitted it was inappropriate for him to be included. Despite Ratcliffe's claim that the contents were not classified, using a private messaging app for such discussions raised concerns about security protocols within the Trump administration. Full Article

The White House announced that Ukraine and Russia agreed to cease fighting in the Black Sea and negotiate a halt to strikes on energy facilities, marking progress towards a full cease-fire. Deals were reached after intense negotiations in Riyadh, with the involvement of U.S. mediators, but details on implementation remain unclear. The agreements aim to eliminate the use of force in the Black Sea, with potential implications for port infrastructure and operations in frontline Ukrainian cities like Mykolaiv and Kherson. Full Article